Accelerometers and guides to amusement parks

 

Code Number:  1I10.10

Demo Title: Amusement Park Physics

Condition: Good

Principle: Physics in the Amusement Park

Area of Study: Mechanics

Equipment: 

Accelerometers and Guides to the Amusement Park.

Procedure:

Take the accelerometers on rides such as the roller coaster and determine minimum and maximum "g"- values.  Heights and inclinations can also be determined.

References:

  • Claire Tham, Robin Yeo, Visshal Natarajan, Tianqin Zhang, Jer-Ming Chen, Lakshminarasimhan Krishnaswamy, Da Yang Tan, "Using a Simple Pendulum to Calculate the Distance Between Two Train Stations", TPT, Vol. 60, #9, Dec. 2022, p. 748.
  • "Correction to: 'Analyzing Forces on Amusement Park Rides with Mobile Devices', Phys. Teach. 52, 149 (March 2014)", TPT, Vol. 52, #5, May 2014, p. 261.
  • Rebecca E. Vieyra and Chrystian Vieyra, "Analyzing Forces on Amusement Park Rides with Moblie Devices", TPT, Vol. 52, #3, Mar. 2014, p. 149.
  • Diane Riendeau, "Paper Roller Coasters", TPT, Vol. 45, #9, Dec. 2007, p. 572.
  • Stefano Alberghi, Alessandro Foschi, Giovanni Pezzi, and Fabio Ortolani, "Is it More Thrilling to Ride at the Front or the Back of a Roller Coaster?", TPT, Vol. 45, #9, Dec. 2007, p. 536.
  • Niran Charoenkul, David Wheeler, and Chanwit Dejasvanong, "The Wall of Death: Newtons, Nerves, and Nausea", TPT, Vol. 37, #9, Dec. 1999, p. 533.
  • Claudio Guerra-Vela, "π from a Milk Container", TPT, Vol. 37, #4, Apr. 1999, p. 246.
  • Paul Hewitt, "Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 35, #6, Sept. 1997, p. 382.
  • Roberta R. Tanner, "Roller-Coaster Design Project", TPT, Vol. 35, #3, Mar. 1997, p. 148.
  • David Simmons and Robert R, Speers, "Magnetic Damping of a Mass - Spring Vertical Accelerometer", TPT, Vol. 35, #1, Jan. 1997, p. 49.
  • Charles Reno and Robert R. Speers, "Accelerometer Measurements in Amusement Park", TPT, Vol. 33, #6, Sept. 1995, p. 382.
  • Richard Taylor, David Hutson, Wesley Krawiec, Jhone Ebert and Robin Rubinstein, "Computer Physics on the Playground", TPT, Vol. 33, #6, Sept. 1995, p. 332.
  • Robert Speers, "Perspectives on the World's Tallest Roller Coaster", TPT, Vol. 30, #4, Apr. 1992, p. 216.
  • Carol Escobar, "Amusement Park Physics", TPT, Vol. 28, #7, Oct. 1990, p. 446.
  • John F. Koser, "A Hand-Held, Milk-Carton Accelerometer", TPT, Vol. 27, #6, Sept. 1989, p. 488.
  • Barbara Wolff, "Amusement Park Physics", TPT, Vol. 26, #9, Oct. 1988, p. 555.
  • John McGehee, "Physics Students' Day at Six Flags/Magic Mountain", TPT, Vol. 26, #1, Jan, 1988, p. 12.
  • Kim Natale, "Final Exam in an Amusement Park", TPT, Vol. 23, #4, Apr. 1985, p. 228.
  • George Taylor, Joseph Page, Murry Bentley, and Diana Lossner, "A Physics Laboratory at Six Flags Over Georgia", TPT, Vol. 22, #6, Sept. 1984, p. 361.
  • John L. Roeder, "Physics and the Amusement Park", TPT, Vol. 13, #6, Sept. 1975, p. 327.
  • Robert R. Speers, "Physics and Roller Coasters - The Blue Streak at Cedar Point", AJP, Vol. 59, #6, June 1991, p. 528.
  • John L. Roeder, "Activity 1. Designing a Roller Coaster", Teaching About Energy, p. 14 - 19.
  • Pat Murphy, Ellen Macaulay, and the Staff of the Exploratorium, "Drop Zone", Exploratopia, p. 168 - 169.
  • Pat Murphy, Ellen Macaulay, and the Staff of the Exploratorium, "Riding the Roller Coaster", Exploratopia, p. 166 - 168.
  • Pat Murphy, Ellen Macaulay, and the Staff of the Exploratorium, "Waiting in Line", Exploratopia, p. 165 - 166.
  • Pat Murphy, Ellen Macaulay, and the Staff of the Exploratorium, "Bumper Cars", Exploratopia, p. 163 - 165.
  • Pat Murphy, Ellen Macaulay, and the Staff of the Exploratorium, "Make Your Own Roller Coaster", Exploratopia, p. 156 - 159.
  • Cameron Johnson, "This New Roller Coaster Breaks Six World Records", Popular Mechanics, Vol. 193, #6, June 2016, p. 17.
  • Amanda Green, "A Brief History of the... Roller Coaster", Popular Mechanics, Vol. 190, #5, May 2013, p. 136.
  • Amber Williams, "The 10 Best Things From April 2014", Popular Science, Vol. 286, #4, Apr. 2014, p. 16.
  • Borislaw Bilash II and David Maiullo, "How High?", A Demo a Day: A Year of Physics Demonstrations, p. 2.
  • "Measuring Our World", The Boy Scientist, p. 28 - 29.
  • Theme Park World Records, Guinness Book of World Records, 2003, p. 178 - 179.
  • Tony Wayne, "Roller Coaster Physics - An Educational Guide To Roller Coaster Design and Analysis for Teachers and Students", 1998.
  • Bernadette Clemens-Walatka, "Amusement Park Inquiry", The Science Teacher, Vol. 65, #1, Jan. 1998, p. 20 - 23.
  • Robert Ehrlich, "C.9. Ping-Pong-Ball Buoy Anchored to a Weight in a Jar", Turning the World Inside Out, p. 31 - 32.
  • James Cunningham and Norman Herr, "2.3.2. Accelerometer", Hands-On Physics Activities with Real-Life Applications, p. 78 - 79.
  • Leo M. Lease, "The Science of Fun at Adventureland".
  • "Why You Don't Fall Out When a Roller Coaster Loops the Loop", Readers Digest - How In The World, p. 405.
  • "Physics and Science Days at Paramount's Great America - Teachers Guidelines/High School Student Activities/Junior High/Middle School Student Activities", 1993.
  • James Wiese, "Amusement Park Physics", Central Scientific Company, 1989.