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Pleasant Valley Elementary LibGuide

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The Challenge

You have been hired by a new theme park in the area to build a small roller coaster. This coaster would be for adults and kids. It can have a loop in it, but it's not required. You must conduct research on force and motion as well as rollercoaster designs. Be sure to use online databases, books, magazines and other various resources.

Here are some questions to consider as you research:

  • How are force and motion related?
  • Where do you see force and motion being used with a roller coaster?
  • What types of energy are used in a roller coaster?
  • How does potential energy directly relate to kinetic energy?
  • What are Newton's Laws and how do they play a part in roller coasters?

Before building the actual coaster, you must create a drawing/sketch and a model of the coaster. Materials will be provided to you after you conduct your research.

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Databases

Gale In Context: Elementary icon

Login Information: Use the login doc for more information.

Be sure to read more than the main article. There are additional types of information available. Be sure to investigate them all!

  • Magazines
  • Books
  • Videos
  • News
  • Pictures

You may want to use the following keywords to guide your research.

  • Roller Coaster
  • Force
  • Motion
  • Forces and Motion
  • Potential Energy
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Structures
  • Gravity
  • Sir Isaac Newton
  • Newton's Laws

 

Gale Presents: National Geographic KiDS icon

Login Information: Use your RAIL card

Be sure to investigate the different types of media available.

  • Magazines
  • Books
  • Videos
  • Pictures

You may want to use the following keywords to guide your research.

  • Roller Coaster
  • Force
  • Motion
  • Forces and Motion
  • Potential Energy
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Structures
  • Gravity
  • Sir Isaac Newton
  • Newton's Laws

 

 

Login Information: Use the login doc for more information.

You may want to use the following keywords to guide your research.

  • Force
  • Motion
  • Energy

Login Information: Use your RAIL card

Click on Experiments or Physical Science

 

Login Information: Use your RAIL card

Select Kids (It's the one with the balloon.)

You may want to use the following keywords to guide your research.

  • Roller Coaster
  • Force
  • Motion
  • Forces and Motion
  • Potential Energy
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Structures

Login Information: Use your RAIL card

Select Kids (It's the one with the pencil.)

You may want to use the following keywords to guide your research.

  • Roller Coaster
  • Force
  • Motion
  • Forces and Motion
  • Potential Energy
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Structures
  • Gravity
  • Sir Isaac Newton
  • Newton's Laws

 

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Destiny Discover overview

Be sure to check out these books through Destiny Discovery. These may help you as you conduct your research on rollercoasters. Please know that there are additional books that may be helpful in our library.

You may want to use the following keywords to guide your research.

  • Roller Coaster
  • Force
  • Motion
  • Forces and Motion
  • Potential Energy
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Structures
  • Gravity
  • Sir Isaac Newton

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Websites

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Magazines

Works Cited

Works Cited:

“Grade 4 Unit 5A: Force and Motion.” Washington County Public Schools, 2022.

All images were taken from the database webpage or Destiny Discover.

 

 

 

Last Updated by Laura Puffenbarger 11/27/2022