Roller Coaster Model Documents

This material has 6 associated documents. Select a document title to view a document's information.

Main Document

Roller Coaster 

written by Michael R. Gallis
edited by Wolfgang Christian
content provider: Barbara Christian, Anne Cox, and Mario Belloni

The EJS Roller Coaster model explores the relationship between kinetic, potential, and total energy as a cart travels along a roller coaster.  Users can create their own roller coaster curve and observe the resulting motion.

The Roller Coaster model was created using the Easy Java Simulations (EJS) modeling tool.  It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive.  Double clicking the jar file will run the program if Java is installed.

Last Modified June 12, 2014

This file has previous versions.

Supplemental Documents (4)

Roller Coaster Energy Model: Teacher Version 

The EJS Roller Coaster Energy Model: Teacher Version shows the motion and energy of a car on a roller coaster track.  You can change the track shape and add friction. EJS Roller Coaster Energy Model is a simulation for physical science (middle and high) school students. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive.  Double clicking the ejs_middle_school_teacher_RollerCoasterEnergy.jar file will run the program if Java is installed. It includes a teacher lesson plan (and answer key).

Published June 17, 2009
Last Modified February 11, 2010

This file has previous versions.

Roller Coaster Energy Model: Student Version 

The EJS Roller Coaster Energy Model: Student Version is a simulation for physical science (middle and high) school students. It shows the motion and energy of a car on a roller coaster track.  You can change the track shape and add friction. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive.  Double clicking the ejs_middle_school_RollerCoasterEnergy.jar file will run the program if Java is installed.

Published June 17, 2009
Last Modified February 11, 2010

This file has previous versions.

Roller Coaster Energy Model: Lesson Plan 

A pdf file with a teacher lesson plan for use with the Roller Coaster Energy Model.  This lesson plan is also packaged within the teacher version of the ready-to-run jar file.

Published June 17, 2009
Last Modified March 21, 2010

This file is included in the full-text index.
This file has previous versions.

Roller Coaster Energy Model: Student Worksheet 

A pdf file with a student worksheet for use with the Roller Coaster Energy Model.  This worksheet is also packaged within the student version of the ready-to-run jar file.

Last Modified March 21, 2010

This file is included in the full-text index.
This file has previous versions.

Source Code Documents

Roller Coaster Model source code 

The source code zip archive contains an XML representation of the Roller Coaster Model.  Unzip this archive in your Ejs workspace to compile and run this model using Ejs.

Published October 27, 2008
Last Modified May 27, 2009

This file has previous versions.