Resources Needed

One instructor with very few resources can easily implement this lesson. The only resources that students will require are access to computers with the Internet and use of any physics textbook for elaboration on the topics, which concern their rides.

Here is a list of the useful web sites I have found for this lesson.

http://www.learner.org/exhibits/parkphysics/ - this site provides an explanation of the physics involved in several different rides at an amusement park and also allows the students to develop rides to meet a given criteria

http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/projects/frig/yepbycca/rcoaster.html - Provides a good deal of information on the physics involved with amusement parks and roller coasters.

http://www.funderstanding.com/k12/coaster/ - This site provides an applet, which allows students to develop a roller coaster and see the results of its run.

http://www.howstuffworks.com/roller-coaster.htm - This article gives a detailed description of the physics principles as well as the mechanical aspects of a roller coaster

http://www.vast.org/vip/book/home.htm - Discusses the principles involved in the design of a roller coaster

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/app/nau_links.htm - Provides many additional links to amusement park physics

http://library.thinkquest.org/C005075F/ - Amusement park Physics

http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com - Amusement park and thrill ride info

http://themeparks.miningco.com - Amusement park and thrill ride info

http://users.sgi.net/~rollocst/amuse.html - Amusement park and thrill ride info

www.americanmidway.com/vacation/index.html - Amusement park and thrill ride info

http://www.saferparks.org - Consumers guide to safer parks

http://www.gravityworks.com/idx_main.html - Gravity Woks - manufacture of extreme rides, gravity defying rides

www.coaster-world.com - history of roller coasters

http://www.rcdb.com/ - roller coaster database

 

Top    Process    Introduction    Standards    Learners    Process    Evaluation
Resources    Student Pages    Credits    Author