Student Handout

Field Trip Assignment
During the amusement park field trip each student completes four tasks
that involve observations of force and motion. The final task is a journal entry
completed on the bus ride home.

Amusement Park Tasks

There are the six rides to analyze:

  • The Colossal Fire Dragon--highest height is 85 ft. and length is 2,850 ft.
  • Wild Mouse--highest height is 50 ft. and length is 1,200 ft.
  • Wooden Roller Coaster--highest height is 60 ft. and length is 2,500 ft.
  • Rocket--217 ft. tall
  • Sky Coaster--143 ft. tall from the launch
  • Jet Star--No data

(Remember, the drop of the Desperado's (Las Vegas, NV ) first hill is 220 ft. Compare that to Colossal. And the Superman's height is over 400 ft.)

.

TASK ONE: For each ride, explain when you observed or felt each of Newton's Laws in effect.

Name of ride

Observation comments on Newton's Laws

Colossus

  

Rocket

  

Wooden Roller Coaster

  

Wild Mouse

  

Jet Star

  

TASK TWO: Using only your body, make up three experiments to conduct while riding three
different rides that might help you make more observations about the force and motion of the ride.
Write down your experiments, the results, and your conclusions.

Name of ride

Experiments that you tried and the results

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

TASK THREE: Answer the following questions for the Colossus:

  1. Do you ever leave your seat when you are upside down?_______________
  2. Where on the ride do you feel light or close to weightlessness? ________________________
  3. How does riding in the back seat differ from riding in the front seat? __________________________________________________________________________
  4. Are you going faster around the loop or on the first drop? Explain your reasoning. _________

______________________________________________________________________________

TASK FOUR: Check in with Mrs. Maves at one of the six rides when you see her with the laptop and probeware. You will make some observations and answer some questions orally about the data displayed.

TASK FIVE: Write a journal entry about the trip on the bus ride home. Write as if you are trying to convince someone why this trip is worthwhile for students. (More points will be awarded for longer entries.)

Journal Entry on why this trip is beneficial for students

 

Remember to:
  • Check in with your chaperone between 12:00-12:30. We will be by the entrance walk way as you come in through the gates. We will tell you where we are meeting for lunch at that time for people who have brought their own food. You still have to check in even if you are not eating lunch at this time.
  • The bus drivers will be at the buses between 12:00-1:00 so you can get your lunch, eat it, and put your stuff back on the bus.
  • Start making your way back to bus between 4:00-4:15. The bus is leaving at 4:30. The park closes at 4:00.
  • If you are found without a chaperone in the park, you will get the privilege of hanging out with me for the day.