Conservation of energy of a rollercoaster using high speed video Summary High speed video of a roller coaster allows students to perform careful analysis of a familiar situation. Students use high speed video to determine whether a roller coaster is an example of a system in which mechanical energy is conserved. This activity follows on the activity Measuring velocity of objects using video clips. Learning Goals A single frame from a video taken at 210 frames per second. The activity is intended to give students experience extracting data from video clips, and use physics concepts and reasoning to make conclusions about the situation. In this case, students use the video to determine the velocity of a roller coaster and apply the law of conservation of mechanical energy. Context for Use This activity is intended for use in any introductory physics course. Description and Teaching Materials The ride in question is called "Steel Venom," a roller coaster at Valley Fair in Shakopee MN. Teaching Notes and Tips Assessment References and Resources
Garbology Featured Activity: Waste-Less Lunch Lead your students in learning about natural resources used in common packaging materials. Challenge your students to conserve natural resources through their lunch choices. Check out this and other Garbology lessons for the classroom » Featured Activity: Conduct a Waste Assessment Do you know how much waste your school puts in landfills each week? Learn how and check out other Garbology activities » Featured Activity: Composting With the FBI The FBI turn waste into healthy soil. Bring Garbology home » FedEx Global Warming Interactive, Global Warming Simulation, Climate Change Simulation First Mammal Species Goes Extinct Due to Climate Change The humble Bramble Cay melomys has disappeared from its island in the Great Barrier Reef. Climate Change Making Calendars Run Amok People in Central Asia are recalibrating their system of time to adapt to a changing ecosystem. The Great Energy Challenge The National Geographic initiative is a call to action to become actively involved, to learn more and do more—to change how we think about and consume energy so that we can all help tackle the big energy questions. The Arctic Is Melting.
Home Page Dangers of Fracking The Roof Is Growing! | Teacher Resources The Roof Is Growing! The Roof Is Growing! is a classroom program developed by the American Society of Landscape Architecture (ASLA) to engage and educate middle school students (grades 6-8) about green roofs and their environmental benefits. A green roof is a roof substantially covered with vegetation. Using an interactive program and a workbook, students gather facts about green roofs. Green Roof Education Components The Green Roof is Growing! Teacher's Guide: A downloadable, print resource to assist teachers with program implementation. Website: An interactive program that allows students to gather information about green roofs and their environmental benefits. Student Workbook: A downloadable, print workbook that directs students through the Green Roof web component and associated activities. Field Trip: If you are in the Washington, D.C. area, consider making a field trip to see the green roof on ASLA's headquarters. Academic Standards The Green Roof Is Growing! More Classroom Activities