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Loop the Loop: Energy Conservation on a Track

Find the minimum release height for a marble to complete a vertical loop and compare it with the physics prediction.

Grade 11ExperimentBuildScience OlympiadScienceEngineeringPhysicsEnergyEngineeringAdvanced1 to 1.7 hr6 materialsAdult supervision required

What you'll learn

  • Apply conservation of energy to a rolling object
  • Use circular motion conditions at the top of a loop
  • Compare a model with data and explain the gap

Objective

Measure the lowest release height that lets a marble complete a loop and compare it with the predicted value from energy conservation.

STEM concepts

Gravitational potential energyKinetic energyRotational energyCentripetal force
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Materials and safety
Step-by-step instructions
Prediction, test sheet and results
Why does it work, challenge and project report

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