Amusement Park Physics

Presented by Vlad Pasek & Bryan Clintberg

Galaxyland at West Edmonton Mall

• Galaxyland is a total indoor amusement park.

• Originally constructed in 1983 under the name “Fantasyland”.

• Total of 25 rides, 7 of which are classified as “advanced”.

• When booking a school group, day passes for students are $8, with several free adult chaperone passes included.

History of Amusement Park Physics

• Started off independent of WEM, only purchased regular group guest passes.

• WEM saw possibility to promote themselves to schools.

• Formed a partnership with us to develop student lab booklets and supporting materials for school groups.

Student Lab Booklets

• Students can work in Galaxyland for a half or full day, depending on the depth of coverage.

• During our trips we spend the morning at the mall.

• Students can expect to use about 30 - 45 minutes of this time actually filling out and working on lab booklet.

Mindbender Rollercoaster

• World’s largest indoor triple loop rollercoaster.

• Questions involve: – qualitative observations of effect on

weight at various points in ride– calculations of energies at various

points, work, and power

Merry Go Round

• Slow motion of ride allows for careful measurement of data.

• Appeals to the more timid students.

• Questions involve:– calculations of circular motion and

centripetal acceleration and forces

Swing of the Century

• Popular ride with the students.

• Questions involve:– qualitative descriptions of various

stages of the ride– calculations of circular motion,

centripetal forces, and equilibrium.

Flying Galleon

• Giant swinging ship.

• Although it is not a perfect pendulum, we treat it as such for our calculations.

• Questions include:– calculation of period of ship as a

pendulum– comparison to actual period of ship

Bumper Cars

• Many students take a break by going over to this ride.

• Questions involve:– qualitative descriptions of various

types of collisions

Space Shot

• One of the newest rides at Galaxyland (it replaced the Drop of Doom).

• Questions involve:– calculations of various forces on riders,

including net forces.

Happy Physics Teacher!

What to Expect on Field Trip

• Book about 2 months in advance with WEM – Call 780-444-5321

• Pay by credit card over the phone for day passes. – Make sure to ask how many free

chaperone passes you will get!

• You will be told what entrance your bus should drop you off at (usually south entrance).

• Ticket stubs (worth one day pass) will be available from Guest Services in Galaxyland.– These may be picked up about 24

hours ahead of time, or on arrival.– Students take these tickets to any of

the kiosks to get their day passes.– The tickets are printed with an

expiry date (that day), so students can not keep them for another visit.

• We allow students to go to the food court attached to Galaxyland, but nowhere else.– One of us usually waits in the food

court to answer student questions, while the other roams Galaxyland.

• Have a prearranged time and place for the students to meet to leave.– Expect about a 15 minute wait as

everyone is rounded up.