An amusement park physics competition

Abstract

Amusement park physics is a popular way to reinforce physics concepts and to motivate physics learners. This article describes a novel physics competition where students use simple tools to take amusement park ride measurements and use the data to answer challenging exam questions. Research into the impact of participating in the competition reveals positive effects such as the acquisition of experimentation skills and improved attitudes towards physics.

Rotating swings—a theme with variations

“…A purely horizontal acceleration, a h , can thus be measured by a bob on a string and a protractor (see e.g. [14] showing a protractor graded as a G-meter).…”

Exploring phase space using smartphone acceleration and rotation sensors simultaneously

“…A possible alternative is the analysis and discussion of everyday problems [17], or the proposal of simple demonstrative experiences using non-sophisticated equipment [18,19]. Another option is non-classroom activities, such as those in amusement parks, either mechanical [20][21][22] or water based [23]. Indeed, as recent studies have pointed out [24], the rewiring approach to learning suggests that the knowledge that students bring to a classroom should be viewed as a productive resource upon which to build, rather than as an impediment.…”

Using smartphone pressure sensors to measure vertical velocities of elevators, stairways, and drones

“…It is also worth mentioning the possibility of making simultaneous measurements with several sensors such as gyroscopes and accelerometers [2][3][4]. One additional advantage is that experiments with smartphones can be easily performed in non-traditional locations such as playgrounds [2], amusement parks, mechanical [15][16][17] or water parks [18], or travel facilities [19]. Every year, new smartphone models with new capabilities are released; therefore, we expect more physics experiments will be proposed for them.…”