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Originally Posted by Chaos204
we can use cardboard and clear tape, with a maximum height of 7 feet. A marble needs to make it around an 8 inch diameter loop we have tried to use cardboard tubing by cutting it in half and slitting the sides so it would curve the ball couldn’t make it up the loop I guess it was too flimsy and bumpy.
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Flimsy is ok.. Not every roller coaster loop has to be a rigid shape. A little give is ok as long as it's not too much. IN a real roller coaster I would not advise this, but since you don't have to ride this one.. a little give in the overall ride would actually work to your advantage.
Also, don't make the shape it goes around completely circular. An oval-ish shape works better for stored energy while in the top of the loop vs gained energy out of the loop.
Quote:
A roller coaster loop is actually a teardrop shape called clothoid. A clothoid is a section of a spiral in which the radius is constantly changing. Unlike a circular loop in which the radius is constant, the radius at the bottom of a clothoid loop is much larger than the radius at the top.
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http://www.worsleyschool.net/science.../coasters.html
Also, notice the many varieties of the clothoid and the many ways it is implemented in these photos.
http://images.google.com/images?svnu...r+coaster+loop
Good luck with the project!!!