Amusement Park Physics

Digitized Video Collection and Motion Analysis

Version 2.0 for Windows

Now includes World-in-Motion software

A roller coaster’s clothoid loop has a changing radius which is greatest at the bottom and smallest at the top. Motion analysis shows that this design moderates the force riders experience when compared to a circular loop.

Scrambler ride – motion analysis reveals that riders experience the greatest thrill (greatest acceleration) when their velocity is at a minimum. Students are able to see that riders travel on a path which more closely resembles linear motion than circular motion.

For some passengers aboard a roller coaster, the parabolic shape of the track combined with the proper velocity creates the thrill of a free falling projectile. Motion analysis allows students to discover where to sit on the train (front, middle, rear) to experience the effect.

After being carried to the top of the drop tower, riders experience the thrilling sensation of free fall. (See motion analysis below)

Graph of velocity vs. time for free fall ride. The slope of the velocity plot yields an acceleration of
-9.8 m/s2, substantiating that riders are indeed in a state of free fall.

Amusement Park Physics is a complete stand-alone software program that includes everything needed for complete motion analysis of a wide variety of amusement park rides. The package includes a comprehensive collection of digitally imaged amusement park rides taken from a variety of amusement parks across the United States. Motion analysis is performed using World-in-Motion ver 6.0 software — now included with the package!

With Amusement Park Physics, students can investigate the exciting real world physics of amusement park rides. Having gathered position-time data from a number of frames in the digitized video clip, the motion of the ride can be fully studied: time, displacement, velocity, acceleration, momentum, force, and energy can all be readily measured. Students can discover the magnitude of acceleration, or “g’s”, experienced by riders; a roller coaster’s conversion of gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy; and the role of centripetal forces on the motion of rotating rides.

Features:

Amusement park rides from numerous amusement parks across the country, including Six Flags Magic Mountain in California, Six Flags Great America in Illinois, Valley Fair in Minnesota, and Six Flags over Texas.
Collect position-time data on screen, then use the software’s powerful analysis features to study velocity, acceleration, force, energy, momentum . . .
Graphical analysis tools include: best fit curve, slope, and area under graph.
A reference video window correlates the object’s position to the specific point on the graph.
Option to export data to a spreadsheet.
Ideally suited as a preparation or follow-up activity for Amusement Park Physics Day.
High quality digitized video clips ready for motion analysis.
Includes teacher guide with student activity sheets.

Pricing: (Perpetual License)	System Requirements:
Single User: $189.00 Lab-10 License: $389.00 Lab-30 License: $579.00 Unlimited Site License: $790.00 World-in-Motion ver 6.0 software included Unlimited Site License allows an unlimited number of computers to run the software at one site, student take-home privileges are granted with this license only.	Windows XP/Vista/7/8 Pricing shown is for perpetual license. Also available, 3-year license priced 40% less than perpetual license. When ordering, simply mention 3-year license and take 40% off the normal price.