Paper Roller Coaster Momentum & Energy STEM Lab (ENG05) | Physics

🎢 Paper Roller Coaster Momentum & Energy STEM Lab (ENG05) Explore mechanical physics, gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy, friction, and centripetal acceleration! The Paper Roller Coaster Momentum & Energy STEM Lab (ENG05) challenges middle school student teams to act as amusement park engineers, designing a functional paper roller coaster track with vertical loops and banked turns to safely guide a marble through maximum run time. Students explore potential vs. kinetic energy transformations, energy conservation, friction loss, centripetal force dynamics, and average velocity calculations! 📦 What is Included in This 3-Page Packet: Page 1: Teacher Guide & Lesson Plan: NGSS alignment (MS-PS3-1, MS-PS3-2, MS-ETS1-2), target science concepts, and station setup guide. Expected student outcomes, answer keys, and track alignment troubleshooting tips. Perfect for your TGM Product Preview! Page 2: Student Mission Card & Blueprint: Real-world mechanical engineering and theme park ride infrastructure scenario hook. Clear material limits box (cardstock track strips, tape, marble, meter stick, timer). Dedicated Coaster Track Elevation & Energy Vector Schematic sketching zone. Page 3: Testing Log & Scientific Reflection: Structured Data Testing Table: Track track length (cm), run time (s), and performance failure modes. Applied Math Connection: Calculate Average Velocity (v = d / t). Physics Reflection Questions: Analyze potential-to-kinetic energy conversion, loop centripetal forces, and friction loss mitigation. 📐 Core STEM Skills Covered: Mechanical Engineering & Theme Park Physics Mechanics Gravitational Potential Energy & Kinetic Energy Transformations Centripetal Acceleration Vector Analysis & Friction Control Data Logging, Time Measurement (s), and Velocity Math Calculations 💡 Why Teachers Love This Resource: 3-Page Professional Layout: Includes a complete Teacher Guide for seamless prep, keeping student lab sheets clean and ready to print! Low-Cost Materials: Uses simple cardstock or construction paper, masking tape, marbles, and stopwatches. High-Impact Physics Lab: Transforms energy equations and motion laws into an exciting, hands-on, high-speed engineering challenge! Format: High-resolution, print-ready PDF format (3 Pages).