Coaster related Science fair projects

I have to do a project for a science fair and I was thinking of doing something coaster related.  Does anybody have any ideas that are relatively easy that i could do? I was thinking of like compressed air but that seems kind of hard.

Compressed air wouldn't be too hard. basically all u need is a pump. It's really not that hard. I say go for it! I've done compressed air before. It even works for K'nex....if you do it right.  Another opption might be to look at how much heat affects wooden coasters and how much their acceleration changes through the day. It'd be a project dealing with fluid friction......don't know if your interested in the or not.
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It's his turn to feast, when you ride the Son of Beast.

*** This post was edited by PkI FaNaTiC on 12/10/2001. ***

Another idea might be to do something in relation to loops and the forces needed to keep the occupants in the car while going through them (the whole lap bar vs. otsr thing comes to mind).

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

I did a project in school about thrill ride physics, and built working models of rides.  Granted it was a lot of work to do this, but hey...got me first place in a regional competition!  I also reaped the benifits when I sold my working coaster model and one of my rides is still used to illustrate pneumatics. (S&S Space Shot)  All in all though it depends on how much time you have and how much work you want to put into your project.  You could always go with a good IHC or Faller model to give a working example of a ride, and videos are always a big bonus.

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Phly the Pheonix

What did you make your rides out of?

You cannot just think of a way to associate coasters with a Science Fair.  You have to research Physics first, and then with your knowledge of Physics and coasters go from there.  For example, for my Science Fair I studied centrepital force and to test it's powers, I used my K'nex roller coaster.  And the next year, in honor of Superman at SFMM, I based my fair on electromagnets, and heat's affect on them.  Don't let the coaster part control you.  That's what I did orignally and I had to change my entire fair!  First find a Physics book(s) and you'll be good from there.  
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Take a good look at Six Flags Worlds of Adventure because in a few years the Sea World side will look exactly like it does, a zoo.

I bought an accelerometer off the internet and then went on roller coasters at Carowinds and tested the force in each of the seats in certain areas on Thunder Road and Hurler.  I also measured them on Carolina Cyclone but that was mainly for fun:).  It was easy because the accelerometer I had used water to measure.  If this seems interesting, I can send you the web site where I got the accelerometer.  Where do you live?  If it is a warmer place, then you could do this.  I got the idea off some show a few years ago in which a guy went on Steel Phantom and measured the forces.
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Paramount Carowinds: Forgotten but not Gone

In seventh grade, my science fair project dealt simply with "The Physics of Roller Coasters."  My friend and I discussed all the basics: potential and kinetic energy, centripetal force, gravity.  We also used that Spacewarp model roller coaster to demonstrate the different principles.  That model alone netted us first place.  It's just a cool model.  Granted, in 1989, roller coasters weren't using compressed air or linear induction or linear synchronous motors... but nevertheless, the basics still leave plenty to discuss.  Roller coasters are just about the best example of general physics there is.

I have something to do, I have very little knowledge of it because it is supposed to be a secret for the end of the year, but I know I am doing roller coasters. I am soo happy. Try to get behind the scenes tours at the parks. Thats what I am going to do, or at least talk to the workers. =)

Ahhh the only joy of highschool...not doing dumpy middleschool science fair projects:)
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Oh the joy of no school not having snotty a**ed kids like . to want to beat down. 
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Does CCI know how to make a bad coaster?

This year I built a Superman:TE model out of Knex for my science fair.It uses electromagnets that turn on and off when contacts on the car hit copper plates near the track.
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Montu is smooth as glass.Ninja at SFOG is as smooth as sandpaper.

About 8 yrs ago (when I was in HS) i did a science fair project on physiscs & roller coasters.  I can't remember exactly what I did, but it had somehting to do w/ velocity and stuff.  Anyway, I called up BGT and they let me in free, and took me to all the roller coaters and let me ride as much as i wanted in any seat!  then they took me into the non guest areas for pictures.  they said they'd only let me and my friend in for the research, but then they ended up letting us stay for free!  I got some really cool pics of Kumba that day, but now I can't find them.  If you're gonna do a project, talk w/ the park beforehand, because BGT gave me some cool press paks on each ride w/ all the stats and pics too.  unfortunately, this was before Montu and Gwazi.  All I got to do it on was Kumba, Scorpion, and Python.