A Appendices

 

A.1  Formulas

            Summary of the kinematic equations for constant acceleration.  The bar over the v means average. The initial values of time, position, and velocity to be 0, 0, and v0, respectively.

 

                                                           

                                                 

 

          

 

Formulas from dynamics and energy. (Use 9.81 m/s2 for g.)

 

                                            

 

                                                     

 

Conversion Factors

            1 inch = 2.54 cm (exact)                                              1 h = 3600 s

            1 ft = 30.48 cm (exact)                                                1 d = 86,400 s

            1 m = 39.37 in.                                                            1 kg = 1000 g

            1 lb = 4.45 N

            1 kg has a weight of 2.21 lbs

 

A.2  Suppliers and Books

Accelerometers   Accelerometers can be made or bought as kits. In addition to the instructions found in this booklet the following may be useful.

 

Amusement Park Physics, A Teachers Guide, Nathan A. Uterman,  (J. Weston Walch, Portland, 1990) pages 19-47. Making horizontal and vertical accelerometers,  practice problems;  using accelerometers in cars, elevators, swings, etc. The author has a web page at    http://newton.dep.anl.gov/hwp/unterman_n.html

Amusement Park Physics,  Carole Escobar, Editor, (American Association of Physics Teachers, College Park, 1994)  Thorough discussion of the physics and the measurements. Contains reprints of papers on amusement park rides. This can be ordered from Pasco and from AAPT (www.aapt.org)).

           

Carole Escobar, ÒAmusement Park Physics,Ó The Physics Teacher, Vol. 28, # 7, pp. 446-453, (October 1990).

 

Roller Coaster Science, Jim Wiese (Wiley, New York, 1994) pages 25-26. Making a simple g meter, testing on a merry-go-round and in a  car, pages 25- 26.

 

 

 

Local Sources:  Both rigid and flexible tubing can be found at home builders suppliers, hardware stores, fish stores, and hobby shops. Flexible tubing is cheapest at larger stores. A good type of rigid tube is the shields sold to cover fluorescent lamps. Both can usually be bought in longer lengths and cut to size.

           

Kits for making about fifteen horizontal and vertical accelerometers may be bought for about $63 (mid 1998). The kits may be ordered from, among others:

           

            Science Kit and Boreal Laboratories

            777 East Park Drive

            Tonawanda, NY 14160 -6781

            716 - 874 - 6020         and  213 - 994 - 6317

 

            Sargent-Welch

            P.O. Box 5229

            Buffalo Grove, IL 60089-5229

            800 - 727 - 4368 Phone

            http://www.sargentwelch.com

 

            Pasco

            P.O. Box 619011

            10101 Foothills Blvd.

            Roseville, CA 95678 - 9011

            916 - 786 -3800  Phone       916 - 786 - 8905  Fax

            sales@pasco.com   Sales Information

            http://www.pasco.com

 

For those who may want to use graphing calculators and the associated probes and sensors.

 

            Vernier Software

            8565 SW Beaverton - Hillsdale Highway

            (503)   297 - 5317

            http://www.vernier.com

 

 

 

A.3 Web Sites

 

http://homepage.mac.com/cbakken/pga/

Clarence BakkenÕs work with Physics Day at Great America Park.

http://solomon.physics.sc.edu/~tedeschi/midway/bigtop.html.

The web site for the University of South Carolina Midway Physics Day.

http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/circles/u612b.html

Excellent background. Detailed look at looping coasters.

http://newton.dep.anl.gov/

Ask a scientist service.

http://www.joyrides.com/links.htm

Usergroups, directories, databases, etc.

http://141.104.22.210/Anthology/Pav/Science/Physics/book/home.html

Explanations of rides with numerical examples.

http://rollercoaster.com/web_links/

Photos, park locations.

http://www.gunn.palo-alto.ca.us/physlab/plab99/labs/nmorley/rollercoaster.htm

Good classroom activity, explanations of lab, photos.

http://curie.uncg.edu/~mturner/title.html

Questions and activities for 6 rides, and two playground rides.

http://www.learner.org/exhibits/parkphysics/

General overview of rides with conceptual examples.

http://www.linfield.edu/~twsobey/Coaster/

Some equations. Assumes some background.

http://www,esc2,bet/TIELevel2/projects/roller/default.htm

Activities and guide. Many resources.

http://www.cinternet.net/~bowersda/history.htm

History of roller coasters.

http://library.thinkquest.org/2745/data/openpark.htm

Mostly accurate discussion of rides. Some vector diagrams hard to decipher.

http://www.phy.nau.edu/~danmac/AAPTDB/

AAPT articles.

http://dalton.gamstc.org/get-it/lessons/by-district/flint/aguthrie

Science of park rides background for elementary teachers.

A.4  Requests for suggestions

            We will continue Midway Physics Day at the South Carolina State Fair. Help us

prepare for the next one by sending suggestions and comments for improving the guide to:

Rudy Jones                                                     Kitty Farnell

Department of Physics & Astronomy             Lexington and Richland School District Five    

University of South Carolina                           1020 Dutch Fork Road

Columbia, SC 29208                                       PO Box 938

rjones@sc.edu                                                 Ballentine, SC 29202

803 - 777 - 6714                                             kfarnell@lex5.k12.sc.us