Course Description

Almost everyone loves riding a roller coaster. Amusement parks are building them higher, faster, longer, and much more thrilling. The physics underlying the design and building of a roller coaster are amazingly simple. In this course, we will be learning when potential and kinetic energy trade places, how forces work to move us around and keep us in our seats, what happens when we accelerate, why we feel weightless during the dips, plus a whole lot more. For our final project,  students will design, build, and test their own model roller coaster using engineering techniques pioneered by the coaster experts. The class will include field trips to local community parks and Wild Waves Theme and Water Park.

Essential Questions

  • How can Newton’s three Laws of Motion be applied to roller coasters?
  • How can physics be used to ensure a safe roller coaster is designed and yet still be thrilling?
  • How can playground equipment be used to help understand the physics of roller coasters?
  • How can we use our learned knowledge of physics to make accurate calculations of the rides at a nearby amusement park?
  • Using pipe insulation, marbles, and popsicle sticks along with common roller design practices, what will be the velocity, potential and kinetic energy, and amount of g’s felt at various points along the coaster?

Other Information

  • This course includes field trips off campus, and we will be using public transportation and a charter bus.
    • The field trip to Wild Waves will incur an additional $100 fee.

Who Should Apply

  • Students currently in 5th or 6th grade.

Week Overview

Date Theme/Topic 
Week 1                                                                            Week one includes getting to know you activities, introductions to Newton’s Laws of Motion as well as algebraic and trigonometric concepts related to roller coaster design, and investigations into simple roller coaster design. We will have a field trip to explore these concepts at the play area of Laurel-Hurst Park.
Week 2 During week two we will continue to use algebra and trigonometry as we move into advanced roller coaster design. We will also explore pendulum motion, center of mass, g-forces, and human physiology related to extreme forces of motion. We will have a field trip to explore these concepts at the play area of Cowen Park.
Week 3 Week three, we will primarily focus on incorporating all we have learned into an individual design challenge, with each student building their own roller coaster with glue guns, pipe insulation, and popsicle sticks. Students will incorporate a theme to their coaster, as well as complete calculations for all design elements. Mid-week, we will have our culminating field trip to experience all we have learned at Wild Waves Theme Park, and on Friday afternoon we will have a student showcase of their roller coasters for the class and families.  

Instructors

Details

Cost

  • $1550
    • $1400 (tuition)
    • $50 (registration fee)
    • $100 (Wild Waves field trip)

Time

9am - 2:30pm

Location

  • University of Washington Seattle Campus
  • Building and Room TBD

Date

  • July 6th-24th, 2026
  • Monday - Friday

Refund and Transfer Deadlines

  • Full tuition refund: April 10th
  • 50% tuition refund: April 11th-May 8th
  • No refund: after May 8th