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About This Simulation
What does it take to make a roller coaster reach 100 km/h? Join the Labster's roller coaster engineering team and use the conservation of energy to design our most exciting ride yet!
Learning Objectives
- Define potential and kinetic energy
- Define mechanical energy and state its conservation principle
- Use the principle of the conservation of mechanical energy and its mathematical expression to predict the behavior of a body in a frictionless system
- Make changes to an isolated system to alter the total mechanical energy of a moving body, and examine how kinetic and potential energies change as the body moves through the system.
About This Simulation
Lab Techniques
- Potential energy
- Kinetic energy
- Mechanical energy
- Energy conservation
- Energy conversion
Related Standards
- HS-PS3-1
- PS3.B-H3
Learn More About This Simulation
This is the principles (high school) version of the simulation on Conservation of Energy. For a more advanced version please see: “Conservation of Energy: Improve the Labster Roller Coaster”
Stay seated and keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle! In this simulation, you will learn about energy conservation, potential energy, and kinetic energy, and use physics to improve our roller coaster track.
Design a new roller coaster
Familiarize yourself with the equations for potential and kinetic energy, and use our test track to see how they can be applied to roller coasters. Then, use those equations and the principle of energy conservation to find out how to make our roller coaster go as fast as you can.
Experiment with potential, kinetic, and mechanical energy
You will become comfortable with the components of the formulas for potential and kinetic energy and identify the variables that determine each type of energy. Then, they will calculate the energy of our roller coaster car in multiple situations, and figure out how it transforms energy from one type into another. You will have the freedom to experiment with different masses of vehicles at different heights to determine how they influence the initial potential of the system. From there, you will explore the roller coaster's mechanical and kinetic energy, and observe how these impact speed once the car is released.
This high school adaptation takes into account the mathematical proficiency of younger students, relying on simpler calculations and qualitative reasoning.
Hold on fast!
After exploring and manipulating different kinds of energy and energy conversion and conservation, you will think critically and apply their knowledge to a design and engineering problem: How can you make the ride reach 100 km/h?
Experience Labster for Yourself
75% of students show high engagement and improved grades with Labster
Easily bolster your learning objectives with relevant, interactive content
Practice a lab procedure or visualize theory through narrative-driven scenarios
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What does it take to make a roller coaster reach 100 km/h? Join the Labster's roller coaster engineering team and use the conservation of energy to design our most exciting ride yet!
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For Science Programs Providing a Learning Advantage
North Dakota State College of Science
“They did the simulation at home, then completed the in-person lab within 30 minutes, no questions asked, and passed the quiz with flying colors.”
Lecturer in Human Physiology
University of Westminster
"I saw some of the students who clearly didn’t necessarily like sitting there reading a book discover they could turn on Labster and keep up with the rest of the class because it spoke to them.
Modesto City Schools
"Having something that's engaging for the students gives teachers that opportunity to breathe and get excited again. Because they're seeing the kids light up, they're seeing the kids engage with content."
Wenatchee Valley College
"The question always is, ‘Can we demonstrate that the students are meeting course outcomes?’ Check! We can do that.”
San José State University
"We surveyed over 400 students. More than 90% thought Labster was easy to navigate, and that it was fun, but more importantly, most of them felt confident that they could execute the labs in person. And that confidence is a big deal."
FAQs
Find answers to frequently asked questions.
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Labster is hosted online, which means that students only have to login from their internet browsers once an account is created.
Labster is only available for purchase by faculty and administration at academic institutions. To procure Labster, simply reach out to us on our website. Schedule a demo, book a meeting to discuss pricing, start a free trial, or simply fill out our contact form.
Labster simulations are created by real scientists and designed with unparalleled interactivity. Unlike point and click competitors, Labster simulations immerse students and encourage mastery through active learning.
Labster supports a wide range of courses at the high school and university level across fields in biology, chemistry and physics. Some simulations mimic lab procedures with high fidelity to train foundational skills, while others are meant to bring theory to life through interactive scenarios.