Amusement parks are exciting, but be careful if NASA physics is involved in their corkscrew roller coasters, because the experience can become a challenging and frightening experience!
This NASA EBook is aimed at science teachers. Fully illustrated with several classroom activities and worksheets.
Several concepts are covered: microgravity, motion and displacement, frames of reference, forces, velocity, acceleration, pendulums, etc.
The following paragraph summarizes the book objectives, authored by several educators and specialists:
What does amusement park physics have to do with NASA?
While many guides relating to amusement park physics exist, this guide is unique because it examines how the physics of motion applies to aeronautics and astronautics. Amusement parks are one of the best places to feel firsthand what astronauts experience while in space. For example, during launch, the thrust of the space shuttle’s engines cause astronauts to experience forces up to three times Earth’s gravity (3 g). Some roller coasters give riders up to 3.7 g. Likewise, weightless conditions experienced during astronaut training and on orbit can be felt on amusement park rides that plummet straight down or crest over hills. This guide contains a section that makes the NASA connection for specific amusement park rides.
To download Amusement Park Physics With a NASA Twist click here. For more help for the students remembering trigonometric functions download the short infographic: What is Soh Cah Toa? You may also be interested in Physics for Entertainment by Yakov Perelman.