The Physics of Roller Coasters

The Physics of Roller Coasters Video Tutorial explains the physics that underlies the thrill of a roller coaster ride. The focus of the discussion and illustrations are on the curved sections of the track such as the clothoid loops and the small hills and dips. Numerous examples, illustrations, and animations assist in the explanations.

The video lesson answers the following questions:

1. How does Physics explain the thrills of a roller coaster ride?
2. How can Newton’s Laws be used to analyze the roller coaster experience?

Video

You can watch the video below, or click here to watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab).

To improve the effectiveness of the learning experience, The Physics Classroom has provided the following tools:

Additional and Related Learning Tools

Concept Builders, Forces and Free-Body Diagrams in Circular Motion
Concept Builders provide practice, feedback, and multiple opportunities to get it right. There's even a Help Me! button that leads to question-specific help. What you waiting for? Click the link and learn.

Physics Interactivesr, Roller Coaster Model
Build a roller coaster loop or a series of dips and hills. Run a coaster car through the track and observe the result. Now that's a great way to learn.

Physics Tutorial, Circular and Satellite Motion Chapter, Amusement Park Physics
The Tutorial section is the most popular section of our website ... and for good reason. It's easy-to-understand, common-sense apporach makes any difficult-to-understand topic easy to learn. Give it a try.

Teacher Resources

Curriculum Corner, Circular Motion and Gravitation
Get students active and thinking with our free Think Sheets from the Curriclum Corner section of our website. Here's one to get you started ...
Mathematics of Circular Motion

Teacher Toolkits, Roller Coaster Physics
Try a Teacher Toolkit ... you might be very glad that you did. Each toolkit includes annotated links to vetted resources from across the web that we feel reliably support the specific topic. Give this one on roller coaster physics a try.

Physics Interactives, Roller Coaster Model
Give students a chance to explore the variables that affect a rider's experience on a roller coaster. Students can design loops and hills and dips and explore the resulting speeds, accelerations and normal forces. There's a classroom-ready activity sheet to make it easy to implement in your classroom.

Concept Builders, Forces and Free-Body Diagrams in Circles
Students love Concept Builders. They can earn stars, dataways, and trophies while they master a concept. This one provides a great exercise in identifying free-body diagrams for objects moving in circles.

Physics Interactives, Roller Coaster Design
This interactive, data-rich tool and the accompanying activity sheet were designed to support a project in which students design a roller coaster.

Science Reasoning Center, Roller Coaster Loops
With this reading passage and accompanying questions from the Science Reasoning Center, students will strengthen their reasoing skills as they learn about the physics of roller coaster loops. A great mental workout.

Physics Tutorial, Circular and Satellite Motion Chapter, Amusement Park Physics
This page from our Tutorial section is the written version of our video Tutorial. You will find additional problems with answers and solutions. Check it out.

Lesson Notes

Download (opens in a new tab) or view below

Slides

Do you like the slides we used? They are available in our low cost Teacher Presentation Pack, along with other updated materials used in our presentation.