PASCO ME-9426A AMUSEMENT PARK PHYSICS - Manual (Page 5)

012-03776E Amusement Park Physics
1
Introduction
Over the past few years, an increasing number of high
school physics classes have been taking one day a year
to visit an amusement park for an open air physics lab.
With a few simple instruments - a vertical accelerometer,
a horzontal accelerometer (that doubles as a sextant), and
a piece of string marked out in meters - students make
measurements that allow them to analyze the motion of
the various rides. It's an invigorating form of laboratory
physics, mentally and physically. It's one thing to watch
a lab cart rolling on a table. It's quite another thing to be
in the lab cart yourself.
Description
The Model ME-9426A Amusement Park Physics (15
pack) provides material for 15 vertical accelerometers
and 15 horizontal accelerometers. The kit also includes
a ball of string that can be marked off in meters for
distance measurements, and plastic bags for protecting
accelerometers, paper, etc., from some of the more
aquatic rides. The only materials you'll need that aren't
provided are scissors, masking tape, pliers, clear plastic
tape, and an amusement park. The accelerometers are
designed to be assembled by the students, themselves.
Instruction sheets are included with the kits.
About This Manual
This manual includes some basic information on using
the accelerometers. It also includes three experiments that
do not require an amusement park: two experiments for
playgrounds, and one for elevators.
We haven't included amusement park experiments for
two reasons. The first is that the rides vary greatly from
park to park. The second is that experimental information
is readily available from other sources. See your local
PTRA (Physics Teacher's Resource Agent) for informa-
tion.
Other
The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT)
Amusement Park Physics handbook, edited by Carole
Escobar, is a collection of the various materials written
and circulated by individual teachers. Amusement Park
Physics presents all the information you need both to plan
a trip to a park and to use the physics of amusement parts
rides in your classes. The handbook includes a teacher’s
guide, practice problems, information on accelerometers,
a measurements reference, laboratory exercises, repro-
ducible student worksheets, and reprinted resource arti-
cles. (ISBN 0-917853-53-9 © 1994). See the AAPT web
site:
www.thephysicsstore.com
It’s quite possible that there is already an Amusement
Park Physics Day planned at a park near you, and mate-
rials may be available that are applicable to that particular
park.
See the PASCO web site at www.pasco.com for more
information on PASCO interfaces, equipment, and soft-
ware.