Event run by Motivated Community Resource Center.

Design Like an Engineer and Build Your Own Roller Coaster! In this workshop, students will learn to think and design like an engineer by utilizing the engineering process to design a roller coaster using pipe insulation, marbles, and objects within the room. Computer simulation programs will aid in finding different ways roller coasters can be designed, taking into account variables like height, velocity, gravity, and the roller coaster path.

The students will be divided into groups where they will learn to interact and work in a team setting because Engineers need to be great communicators! First, they will go through a presentation highlighting how roller coasters are designed, and the physics behind why they work. They will plan out their design using the fundamental principles they learned in the presentation. Lastly, the students will create a roller coaster using flex pipe insulation as the structure, tape, and a marble representing the cart full of passengers. They can be as creative as they want, using materials found around the room to help with their structure and path. Students will design, evaluate, and improve throughout the workshop, experiencing the process engineers go through on a daily basis!