This lesson will explore the phenomenon of natural gradient, as students learn about how the natural flow of the Great Lakes landscape can provide a smooth path for mountain bike riding. They will explore the physics of accelerated motion, explore the math of slope, and investigate existing and planned trails in the Great Lakes before building a slow, smooth-rolling trail to move marbles, modeling the design of mountain biking trails.

• Know how the gradient of a hill is calculated
• Understand how gradient relates to acceleration
• Be able to engineer a circuitous path to allow a marble to roll downhill from one location to another at the slowest speed possible