Transcript Amusement Park Physics

Amusement Park Physics
Presented by Vlad Pasek &
Bryan Clintberg
Galaxyland at West Edmonton Mall
• Galaxyland is a total indoor
amusement park.
• Originally constructed in 1983
under the name “Fantasyland”.
• Total of 25 rides, 7 of which are
classified as “advanced”.
• When booking a school group, day
passes for students are $8, with
several free adult chaperone
passes included.
History of Amusement Park Physics
• Started off independent of WEM,
only purchased regular group
guest passes.
• WEM saw possibility to promote
themselves to schools.
• Formed a partnership with us to
develop student lab booklets and
supporting materials for school
groups.
Student Lab Booklets
• Students can work in Galaxyland
for a half or full day, depending on
the depth of coverage.
• During our trips we spend the
morning at the mall.
• Students can expect to use about
30 - 45 minutes of this time
actually filling out and working on
lab booklet.
Mindbender Rollercoaster
• World’s largest indoor triple loop
rollercoaster.
• Questions involve:
– qualitative observations of effect on
weight at various points in ride
– calculations of energies at various
points, work, and power
Merry Go Round
• Slow motion of ride allows for
careful measurement of data.
• Appeals to the more timid
students.
• Questions involve:
– calculations of circular motion and
centripetal acceleration and forces
Swing of the Century
• Popular ride with the students.
• Questions involve:
– qualitative descriptions of various
stages of the ride
– calculations of circular motion,
centripetal forces, and equilibrium.
Flying Galleon
• Giant swinging ship.
• Although it is not a perfect
pendulum, we treat it as such for
our calculations.
• Questions include:
– calculation of period of ship as a
pendulum
– comparison to actual period of ship
Bumper Cars
• Many students take a break by
going over to this ride.
• Questions involve:
– qualitative descriptions of various
types of collisions
Space Shot
• One of the newest rides at Galaxyland
(it replaced the Drop of Doom).
• Questions involve:
– calculations of various forces on riders,
including net forces.
Happy Physics
Teacher!
What to Expect on Field Trip
• Book about 2 months in advance
with WEM
– Call 780-444-5321
• Pay by credit card over the phone
for day passes.
– Make sure to ask how many free
chaperone passes you will get!
• You will be told what entrance
your bus should drop you off at
(usually south entrance).
• Ticket stubs (worth one day pass)
will be available from Guest
Services in Galaxyland.
– These may be picked up about 24
hours ahead of time, or on arrival.
– Students take these tickets to any of
the kiosks to get their day passes.
– The tickets are printed with an
expiry date (that day), so students
can not keep them for another visit.
• We allow students to go to the
food court attached to Galaxyland,
but nowhere else.
– One of us usually waits in the food
court to answer student questions,
while the other roams Galaxyland.
• Have a prearranged time and
place for the students to meet to
leave.
– Expect about a 15 minute wait as
everyone is rounded up.