Amusement Park Physics

Amusement Park Physics Bundle

Measure the forces of your roller coaster ride electronically -- and easily graph your experience! Learn more

Amusement Park Physics Kit

Build simple accelerometers using springs -- study the forces of amusement park rides with this kit co-developed with the AAPT. Learn more

Capture the thrill -- and the physics -- of the ride electronically

• Acceleration in all 3 dimensions
• Resultant acceleration
• Altitude change

Electronically record all the acceleration you experience during your favorite amusement park ride -- plus get all the changes in elevation at the same time. Download your data to a computer and you have a detailed graph of your ride -- acceleration in all three dimensions, resultant acceleration, and changes in altitude with 30 cm resolution. All with just one sensor conveniently secured in your vest.

The vest was designed in cooperation with leading amusement parks to securely hold your Xplorer datalogger and 3-Axis Accelerometer/Altimeter while you experience the thrill of the ride.

Built to get results

The Xplorer includes a "sticky start/stop" feature -- avoid accidentally stopping your data collection during the movement of the ride.

Here's what you'll need:

• Amusement Park Physics Bundle (PS-2754A)

This convenient set of equipment provides your student with the probeware and vest to electronically measure the experience of roller coasters and other thrill rides, or almost any other physical activity -- from a sled run or bike ride to playground activities such as swinging. The Xplorer records approximately 9 minutes or ride data.

Xplorer GLX alternative:

If you prefer, use an Xplorer GLX for your amusement park physics in place of the Xplorer. You will need the Xplorer GLX Vest (PS-2517), Xplorer GLX (PS-2002), and the 3-Axis Accelerometer/Altimeter (PS-2136). With the 12 MB memory of the Xplorer GLX, you get virtually unlimited data collection capacity.

Construct your own accelerometers and see the physics of the ride.

Developed with the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT)

• Vertical and horizontal accelerometers
• Complete kit for 15 students

Investigate almost any type of ride -- from thrill rides at an amusement park to an elevator or playground ride. These simple accelerometers give the student a low-cost means of quantifying the acceleration they experience.

The PASCO Amusement Park Physics Kit is the only kit that:

• Has been approved by the safety officers of major amusement parks across the USA.
• Has been student tested in amusement parks by hundreds of schools.
• Has been teacher tested in hundreds of Amusement Park Physics Workshops.
• Uses a metal coil spring for the Vertical Accelerometer (far more accurate than the commonly used rubber band).
• Helps support physics education (for each set sold, $2.50 is donated to the AAPT).

Can't make it to an amusement park?

Free ready-to-use experiments for investigating more local rides.

• Merry go round
• Swing
• Elevators

Here's what you'll need

• Amusement Park Physics Kit (ME-9426)

Includes materials for constructing 15 vertical accelerometers and 15 horizontal accelerometers, plus a ball of twine for making simple tape measures. Instructions, experiment manual and plastic bags to protect the equipment are provided.

• Amusement Park Physics Handbook (SE-8740)

Produced by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), this handbook gives teachers helpful information on their "Physics Day" at an amusement park. Includes teacher guide, practice problems, measurement booklet, student workbook and resources.

Other materials required:

• Scissors
• Pliers
• Masking Tape
• Clear Plastic Tape