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Slow Coaster: The Turtle Tumbler

See the Turtle Tumbler in action!

How It Works

This "Slow Coaster" is made by  fastening carriage bolts to a peg board using wing nuts and connecting those bolts in a"bridge-like" manner using rubber bands. The method in which the bolts are placed is completely up to the architect. The goal of the coaster, is for the ping pong ball to move as slowly as possible down the track. 

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  • 2'x2' Peg Board

  • 1/4" carriage bolts, 3" long

  • Nuts

  • Wing nuts

  • Rubber bands

  • Ping pong ball

Materials List
The Science Behind The Coaster

Inertia is the tendency for an object to keep moving unless acted on by an unbalanced force. In this case, the pull of gravity causes the ping pong ball to move down the track. Unless the ball is acted on by and unbalanced force like friction, the ball will continue to move. If the ball was acted on by an unbalanced force, it would cause a change in movement (whether a change in direction or speed). At all times, there is some sort of force acting on the ball whether balanced or unbalanced. 

Calculations

Distance Traveled by the Ping Pong Ball: 367 cm

(length of the track)

Average Time: 24.5 sec

Average Speed: 367 cm/24.5 sec= 14.98 cm/sec

Essential Standards

  • K.P.1.1. - Compare the relative position of various objects observed in the classroom and outside using position words such as: in front of, behind, between, on top of, under, above, below and beside.

  • K.P.1.2. - Give examples of different ways objects and organisms move (to include falling to the ground when dropped ): Straight, Zigzag, Round and round, Back and forth, Fast and slow

  • 1.P.1.1- Explain the importance of a push or pull to changing the motion of an object.

  • 1.P.1.2- Explain how some forces (pushes and pulls) can be used to make things move without touching them, such as magnets.

  • 1.P.1.3- Predict the effect of a given force on the motion of an object, including balanced forces.

  • 3.P.1.1 Infer changes in speed or direction resulting from forces acting on an object.

  • 3.P.1.2 Compare the relative speeds (faster or slower) of objects that travel the same distance in different amounts of time.

  • 3.P.1.3 Explain the effects of earth’s gravity on the motion of any object on or near the earth.

  • 5.P.1.1 Explain how factors such as gravity, friction, and change in mass affect the motion of objects.

  • 5.P.1.2 Infer the motion of objects in terms of how far they travel in a certain amount of time and the direction in which they travel.

  • 5.P.1.3 Illustrate the motion of an object using a graph to show a change in position over a period of time.

  • 5.P.1.4 Predict the effect of a given force or a change in mass on the motion of an object

Integration of Mathematics

This lesson incorporates various math skills, including:

  • addition, division and subtraction

  • measurement

  • use of unit systems

  • rounding and estimation

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