Something I have been working on for a while and has recently had its pilot session has been the BallCoaster. This is a kit of parts from which a roller coaster can be constructed.
It was a pilot on the 22nd of September at the Engineering Centre in Top valley, Nottingham. Ballcoaster is funded by and owned by Nottingham Science City and has proved a tough task now solved.
The parts seem simple, a set of foam brackets holding a hosepipe but there has been some serious engineering and research to get it to work. The hose is a special type which is extremely flexible but still retains its round section when bent otherwise it would slip out of the foam brackets grip. The brackets are a 'standard' industrial foam cut by waterjets by a specialist company. The resulting kit works extremely well but DOES NOT make it overly easy for the students. They have to work together to get it working. My favourite parts are the weights for the adjustable brackets, made of socks filled with gravel, and the adjustable height levellers for the track which are 300 x 200 x 100mm cardboard standard boxes. Both items are extremely cheap and demonstrate that sometimes things can be simple, and seriously effective!
There is a complete blog with downloadable manual and videos I have written HERE, email me what you think and contact Science City Nottingham, Ian Tringali, if you want to buy kits or get some training yourselves.
