Roller Coaster in a shoebox!!

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afitzyface
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Nov 07, 2009 12:41 pm
Occupation: tutor
Project Question: I need to help a child build a roller coaster in a standard size shoebox. The object is to make the marble stay on the shoebox ramp the longest without falling off or getting stuck. Any suggestions?
Project Due Date: dec 11
Project Status: I am conducting my research

Roller Coaster in a shoebox!!

Post by afitzyface »

I tutor a 4th grader who needs to build a roller coaster in a shoebox. The goal is to keep a marble on tyhe ramp for the longets time without getting stuck or falling off. Any suggestions?
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deleted-71487
Former Expert
Posts: 214
Joined: Wed Aug 24, 2005 3:07 pm

Re: Roller Coaster in a shoebox!!

Post by deleted-71487 »

Hmmm... well, there are several routes one could go, but the trick would seem to be to have the shallowest possible slope that the marble will reliably continue to move on. Anything buildable by a 4th grader that depends on building up a lot of speed going down and then coming back up is likely to be too unreliable, I would think.
../ray\..
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