8/15/2023 0 Comments Log flume ride physicsIdeas that physics students might ponder are: ‘Why don’t the cars of a roller coaster fly off the track? Why don’t the passengers fly out of the cars? How high does the first hill of a roller coaster have to be in order to complete the ride? What physical laws determine how many hills, curves, and loops a roller coaster track can have?’ĭodgem Cars bring Newton’s third law of motion into play (for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction). Gravity and friction control the rest of the ride. A coaster gains gravitational potential energy as it is pulled to the top but this changes to kinetic energy as the coaster begins its descent. Roller coasters are pulled to the top of the highest hill on the track and then released. More than just a thrill ride, this is an excellent illustration of the laws of physics in operation. If you are wondering how a fun park and physics go hand in hand, take the roller coaster as a prime example. With a vertical and a horizontal accelerometer strapped to their wrists, and a stopwatch, calculator and pen to take measurements and record results, our groups of NCEA and IB Diploma physics students set out at Rainbow’s End to complete a large range of tasks that included a Roller Coaster, the Fear Fall, Dodgem Cars, a Log Flume and the ominously named ‘Invader’ as part of their equipment list! To experience physics in action while having a bit of fun was a golden opportunity for the students to learn more about simple harmonic motion, gravitation, the interchange between potential and kinetic energy, momentum, impulse and other physics concepts. Whilst an adventure park may seem an odd choice of ‘classroom,’ the rides are more than just thrill-seeking. One of the highlights of the science year for our Year 13 physics students is the practical field trip to Rainbow’s End to prepare for an internal physics assessment. Whilst their peers were at College getting on with their school work in class, our Year 13 NCEA and IB Diploma Physics students took their learning offsite for a morning to hang upside down, fall from great heights and crash into one another, all in the name of physics! Upside down in the name of Physics at 1:00 PM New Girls' School and Specialist Facilities.New Boys' School Senior Classrooms and Specialist Facilities.Special thanks go to Mr Mckie and Mrs Muir for making this stellar day possible for these lucky students. Through this new lens, students are now able to understand better how physics principles are used to maximise the enjoyment of these real-world amusement rides and realise that there is more to physics than in the classroom. The students ended the day of team building and learning by sharing a delicious meal of KFC. Moreover, although most students claimed there was no such thing as the best part of the day since the whole day was wondrous, many accepted that the true highlight of the day was watching Mr McKie as he vanquished the Invader. Every ride was well patronised by our students who went racing on the scorpion karts, rushed for numerous consecutive trips on the Log Flume, gained a significant adrenalin rush on the Fear Fall, simply enjoyed themselves on the Corkscrew Coaster and captured memories on the Gold Rush in the form of a photo. The weather ended up being the icing to the cake as students let themselves scream and shout and relive their childhood fun. Subsequently, the non-existent lines meant they could breeze through going on ride after ride without the need for a break. Brave students conquered thrill rides in the likes of the Invader, Fear Fall, Power Surge and Corkscrew Coaster.Īs the sweet cherry on top, being a Wednesday, the students made up the bulk of the guest population at Rainbows End. Aside from amplifying their physics knowledge, they proved that they have broken out of their comfort zones. This excursion was beneficial for both their internal “Application of physics to a selected context” (91522) as well as their external “Demonstrate understanding of mechanical systems” (91524).ĭespite a drizzly start to the day, the learners were able to milk out the full experience at Rainbows End. During the day, students observed torque, circular motion, simple harmonic motion and other physics principles in action. The purpose of the trip was for students to familiarise themselves with the mechanisms of a spectrum of rides, applying the laws of physics to illustrate the functionality of each one. Accompanied by Mr McKie and Mrs Muir, students were let loose from the moment of arrival to satisfy their curiosities. As part of the NCEA Level 3 Physics Course, students had the day out of school to deepen their knowledge of physics at Auckland’s most recognised theme park, Rainbows End.
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