Competing Coasters: Estimation & Percent Error

We all met together today, since Cory is no longer working with small groups. And today we had short classes so that we could go to the Upper El Gold Rush performance. Because the performance went long, the 7B class had a shorter class period than 7A.

Both classes talked about roller coasters they had experienced, in preparation for Physics Day at Six Flags tomorrow. We talked about speed, height, length, and duration, and the relationship between these variables in a roller coaster. The learning goal was to talk about Estimation, and how to judge how good your estimates are, by calculating Percent Error.

To do this, we played the game Coaster Competition on the computer. Here are the rules:

Goal: Choose the superlative coaster. Highest points win!

1. Partners take turns
2. Player A chooses a picture of a roller coaster at www.Joyrides.com.
3. Player A estimates & records their estimate on their Roller Coaster Data handout (which you can download here):
· speed
· height
· track length
· duration
4. Player B chooses a picture of a roller coaster they think will be faster, higher, and longer at Joyrides.
5. Player B estimates & records their estimate on their handout:
· speed
· height
· track length
· duration
6. When both players have made their estimates, they check actual data at www.RCDB.com, an extensive roller coaster database. The search box at the top left allows you to find out the actual measurements for your roller coaster. They record the actual measurements on their handouts.
7. One point each is awarded for the fastest, highest, longest track, and longest duration. The player with the most points win.
8. Next time, Player B goes first, and Player A goes second. Players must choose a new roller coaster every time.

In Class 7A, we had a chance to play the game and talk about how to improve our estimates. We discussed how we can figure out how good our estimates are by calculating the Percent Error with this formula:

Estimation Score = Percent Error = (Estimated amt. - Actual amt./Actual Amount) x 100

Class notes may be downloaded here.

HOMEWORK: CLASS 7A
Play the Coaster Competition game 8 times with someone, going to Joyrides to pick a picture and estimate, find out actual measurements on RCDB, and record your data on the Roller Coaster Data handout.

The calculate the Percent Error of your estimates for one of the variables (speed, height, length, or duration) for each of the 8 rounds, and record the percent error on the Estimation Score Chart handout, which you can download here.

Due Monday, June 7.

HOMEWORK: CLASS 7B
Play the Coaster Competition game 8 times with someone, going to Joyrides to pick a picture and estimate, find out actual measurements on RCDB, and record your data on the Roller Coaster Data handout.

Due Monday, June 7.