PHYSICS AT A GLANCE Amusement Park Adventure Carolyn Sumner’s Slides

PHYSICS AT A GLANCEAmusement Park Adventure

Carolyn Sumner’s Slides

Slides showing motion encourage students to apply their mechanics to real world events. Each physics slide is designed to illustrate specific mechanics concepts and to complement activities found in the Mechanics of Motion. Many slides can be turned into quantified real world problems simply by using the sizes of passengers to provide a scale factor.

1. Texas Cyclone, Astroworld, Houston, TX

1. Rated by many as the best roller coaster in the world, the keys to its ride excitement are the 10 peaks and five 180o curves compressed into a 2.24 min, ride. The Cyclone has three 8-passenger sections. The last section experiences the greatest upward flip over the hilltops. Discuss the “advantages” of the various riding positions.


3. Comet, Hershey Park, Hershey, PA

3. Discuss component forces causing passengers to pull miltiple g’s in coaster valleys.


4. 5. 6. 7.

All of these slides show banked curves. Contrast the banking of the curves in slide 4, in slides 5 and 6, and in slides 7 and 8.On many of the slides you can measure the banking angle and can estimate the coaster’s speed.

5. American Eagle, Marriott’s Great Adventure, Gurnee, IL


7. Willard’s Whizzaer, Marriott’s Great Adventure, Santa Clara, CA0

7. Willard’s Whizzaer, Marriott’s Great Adventure, Santa Clara, CA0

9 and 10

These two slides can be used for discussion. Slide 9 shows the Cyclone climbing the first hill. On ride literature it is often shown slideways to give the illusion of the downhill plunge. Project the slide vertically and see if students can detect the error. More



10. Zambezi Zinger, Worlds of Fun, Kansas City, MO

11. The Demon, Marriott’s Great America, Santa Clara, CA

12. Revolution, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Los Angeles, CA

13. Tidal Wave, Marriott’s Great America, Santa Clara, CA

14. Greezed Lightnin”, Astroworld, Houston, TX

15. Tidal Wave, Marriott’s Great America, Santa Clara, CA

14. Greezed Lightnin”, Astroworld, Houston, TX

17. Orient Express, Worlds of Fun, Kansas City, MO



20. Wasbash Cannonball, Oprey land, Nashville, TN



23. Texas Cliffhanger, Six Flags Over Texas, Dallas/Ft Worth, TX

24. Texas Cliffhanger, Six Flags Over Texas, Dallas/Ft Worth, TX

25. Texas Chute Out and Judge Roy Scream, Six Flags Over Texas, Dallas/Ft Worth TX

26. The Conquistador, Six Flags Over Texas, Dallas/Ft.Worth, TX

27. Spinnaker, Six Flags Over Texas, Dallas/Ft.Worth, TX

28. Tom’s Twister, Six Flags st Louis, MO

29. Glunslinger, Astroworld, Houston, TX

30. Run Away Rick Shaw “Scrambler”, Astroworld, Houston,TX

31. “Troika”, Marriott’s Great America, Sasnta clara, CA

30 and 31

Each ride has three arms and similar dual axis ride paths. On one, riders feel a changing vertical force only. On the other, riders feel a changing lateral force only. Discuss why.

32. Bumper Cars, Astroworld, Houston, TX

32

Discuss elastic and inelastic elements of collisions. Also ask why the ozone smell and sparks on the ceiling occur during this ride.

33. Thunder River, Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ




33 and 36

Slide 33 shows turbulent flow.

In slide 35 the flow is laminar, comparing slides 34 and 36 shows why.

Also note the shallowness of the water.

37. Splash Down, “Hydorflume”, Six Flags Great Adventure, Jakson, NJ

38. Bambo Shoot, “Log Flume”, Astroworld, Houston, TX

37 and 38

Discuss differences in splashes and passenger forces for the two different kinds of flumes. Notice that neither ride produces an uncontrolled splash. Both boats remain on tracks.

39. Highland Fling and Sky Chuter, Six Flags, St. Louis, MO

40. Highland Fling and Sky Chuter, Six Flags, St. Louis, MO

39 and 40

Compare and contrast falling experiences. Discuss how rings around the sun are formed.

That’s all folks!

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PHYSICS AT A GLANCE Amusement Park Adventure Carolyn Sumner’s Slides