Name: _____________________ Date: _____________________

Roller Coaster
What makes riding a roller coaster fun?  Many of you would probably say because they go fast.”  But what makes a roller coaster go fast – height, length, or the perfect combination of both?  Find out the answers to those questions by working through this activity to determine the relationship between a roller coaster’s height, length, and speed.

Roller Coaster Data

            Today, via the Internet, we will explore two continents and select three roller coasters from each continent. You will select a total of six roller coasters recording their continent, country, name of roller coaster and its maximum speed, maximum length and maximum height.

            Go to the web site on Roller Coaster Data at www.rcdb.com to find information about roller coasters around the world. 

On the left hand margin under Reports, go to Record Holders.

Under Record Holders in the center of the page,

                            Insure that Statistic is listed as Speed

                                              Type is listed as All and

           Design is listed as All.

             Go to the fourth line for Location: World Select Continent.

Here you will select your two continents.  Each continent can have several countries on it.  Choose three roller coasters from each continent.  Using the data table on the next page, record the: country, roller coaster name, maximum speed, maximum length and maximum height. 

NOTE:  If the web site data base does not list the maximum speed, maximum length and maximum height for the roller coaster you have chosen, then choose another roller coaster.

Roller Coaster Data

Roller Coaster

Speed versus Height

            Answer the questions that follow.  Use that information to construct a scatter plot showing the relationship between speed and height of a roller coaster.

1.      Review your data in the table and consider the relationship between a roller coaster’s speed and height.  Write a statement describing that relationship.                                                                                                                                         

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2.      As you prepare to construct a graph showing the relationship between the roller coaster’s speed and height, record the speeds along the x-axis and the heights along the y-axis.                                                                                                    

Decide on appropriate scales for the axes.  List them below with the minimum and maximum amounts (starting and stopping points) for each axis.

x-axis scale and min/max: ____________________________

y-axis scale and min/max: ____________________________

3.      Construct the scatter plot showing the speeds and heights for all six roller coasters.  Use the graph paper provided.

4.      Using the scatter plot, describe the correlation between a roller coaster’s speed and height.

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Roller Coaster

Speed versus Length

            Answer the questions that follow.  Use that information to construct a scatter plot showing the relationship between the speed and length of a roller coaster.

1.      Look over your data in the table and consider the relationship between a roller coaster’s speed and length.  Write a statement describing that relationship.                                                                                                                                          

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

2.      As you prepare to construct a graph showing the relationship between the roller coaster’s speed and length, record the speeds along the x-axis and the lengths along the y-axis.

Decide on appropriate scales for the axes.  List them below   with the minimum and maximum amounts (starting and stopping points) for each axis.

x-axis scale and min/max: ____________________________

      y-axis scale and min/max: ____________________________

3.      Construct the scatter plot showing the speeds and lengths for all six roller coasters.  Use the graph paper provided.

4.      Using the scatter plot, describe the correlation between a roller coaster’s speed and length.

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__________________________________________________________________________
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Roller Coaster relationships between Speed and Height

Height
	Speed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roller Coaster relationships between Speed and Length

Length
	Speed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

If you were designing a roller coaster for maximum speed, explain
which factor -- height or length -- is more critical in the design.

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Of the six roller coasters you chose, which would be the most exciting
to ride on? Is the thrill from the speed or the height?

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