West Essex Middle School Students Create Rollercoasters in Science Class

West Essex Middle School eighth grade students created rollercoasters in science class as part of a unit on physics. Students used tube insulation, paper towel tubes, tape and popsicle sticks.

 The students formed groups, drew rollercoaster plans with the objective of determining the effect that the number of passengers has on the acceleration and force of a rollercoaster, according to science teacher Stacey Gadek. The students then used marbles to travel along the rollercoasters to see how well their projects worked. Some were more successful than others.