Marble Roller Coaster Science Project Plan

Build a marble roller coaster from foam pipe insulation in this fun science project.

Marble roller coaster science project plan.

You ll build a roller coaster track for marbles using foam pipe insulation and masking tape and see how much of an initial drop is required to get the marble to loop the loop. This homemade roller coaster is definitely one of the most fun science projects but it is also one of the most challenging. Before you try building an entire roller coaster practice building the individual track segments. Get the science fair guide.

You can build one just for fun or do this as a science fair project. You can print this template and cut out the pieces or follow the instructions to draw your own with a pencil and ruler. What type of slope will accelerate the marble the fastest. The marble relies on the force of gravity to speed it up as it travels down the track.

Abstract this is a really fun project even if you don t like going on roller coasters yourself. You have to experiment with different height and different loop sizes to make a good roller coaster marble run. The marble roller coaster is an open ended challenge. Get the lesson plan and project sheet for this activity.

To build a straight segment. A steeper slope will accelerate the marble the faster however the total track length will be longer. In addition to the roller coaster materials you ll need a stopwatch and a heavy object.