1I10.10 - Amusement Park Physics

Code Number:
1I10.10
Demo Title:
Amusement Park Physics
Condition:
Good
Principle:
Physics in the Amusement Park
Area of Study:
Mechanics

Disclaimer

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.
Other roller coaster applets.

Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist.  The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose.  The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources.  Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks.  These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage.  Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.