Purpose
This interactive uses curved and looped tracks to create model roller coasters for demonstrating the interplay between kinetic and potential energy. There is also a small amount of frictional dissipation programmed into the system.

Using the Interactive

• Configure the interactive using the ENVIRONMENT template on the right-hand side.
• Build a roller coaster using the CONSTRUCTION TOOLS template along the bottom.
• The left-hand side shows the grid that can be used to construct the track.

• Mass / Initial Velocity / Gravity: These sliders control the mass of the roller coaster car, its initial velocity, and the acceleration of gravity.
• Show Grid: This checkbox determines if the grid appears on the screen.
• Delete Selection/Clear All: These buttons delete parts of the track that have been selected (by clicking on them) and clear all parts of the track at once, respectively.
• Start/Pause: This button animates the motion of the roller coaster car around the track.
• Simulation Speed: This slider controls the speed of the animated motion time.
• Concave / Convex / Straight / Loop: Click on one of these buttons to insert a segment of track with the corresponding shape.

1			To construct a simple track: Click the CONCAVE button; click and hold on a grid point in the leftmost column of a central row; drag to a point in the bottom row about 7 columns over; release the mouse button. Click the LOOP button; click and hold on the ending grid point of the previous segment of track; drag diagonally upward to a point about 2 rows lower than the height of the 1st segment of track; release the mouse. Click the STRAIGHT button; click and hold on the ending grid point of the previous segment of track; drag diagonally upward to a point in the rightmost column 1 row higher than the original height of the roller coaster; release the mouse. Set the MASS and INITIAL VELOCITY to the smallest values. Set the SIMULATION SPEED to 0.2'. Will the car make it over the loop?
			A)	yes
			B)	no
2			Will the car make it to the top of the final segment of track?
			A)	yes
			B)	no
3			Set the MASS to the largest value. Now, will the car make it over the loop and to the top of the last segment?
			A)	It will not make it over the loop and therefore also not to the top of the last segment.
			B)	It will make it over the loop and also to the top of the last segment.
			C)	It will make it over the loop but not to the top of the last segment.
4			Set the simulation speed to the lowest values. When does the car have the greatest kinetic energy?
			A)	At the very beginning of the track.
			B)	At the very end of the track.
			C)	At the bottom of the loop.
			D)	At the top of the loop.
			E)	When it is halfway to the top of the loop.
5			When does the car have the greatest potential energy?
			A)	At the very beginning of the track.
			B)	At the very end of the track.
			C)	At the bottom of the loop.
			D)	At the top of the loop.
			E)	When it is halfway to the top of the loop.
6			When does the car have the greatest acceleration?
			A)	At the very beginning of the track.
			B)	At the very end of the track.
			C)	At the bottom of the loop.
			D)	At the top of the loop.
			E)	When it is halfway to the top of the loop.