The quintessential theme park ride is the roller coaster. Think of it as a large-scale laboratory demonstration of speed, acceleration and momentum. Galileo would be amazed to see his experiments conducted at this scale. Once over the top, the cars accelerate downward at 32 feet per second per second or 22 miles per hour per second. Neglecting friction (this is astrophysics after all!), a three-second fall will have you moving at well over 60 miles per hour! These roller coasters would be for wimps on the Moon, but they’d be a blast on Jupiter.
The Scrambler is a Ptolemaic contraption of cycles and epicycles. But the fun and nausea come from the sweep inside to outside and back again. The tighter the turn, the greater the whiplash. In technical terms, this is conservation of angular momentum, commonly (and somewhat mistakenly) called centrifugal force. What real force balances the forces you feel, and why don’t you fly off into those standing in line? Regardless, a Copernican version just wouldn't be much fun at all.
Loops on modern steel roller coasters are another lesson in centrifugal forces. The track keeps the cars (and people) from flying off, while the virtual balance of gravity and outward force causes that awful feeling in your stomach. From the side, the loops are not round, but teardrop-shaped for good reason. Ride engineers have worked out the balance of forces that produce the most thrill with the least neck-snapping action.
Pure acceleration by gravity is basis of the free-fall rides like the Dominator, although "Newton’s Apple" might be more appropriate. Yet another ride is something like actually going into space. Cars are catapulted like a rocket by air pressure and driven through a loop and up a steep ramp. Once the kinetic energy has been converted into potential, back down the ramp you go. Rather than head slamming G-forces, it’s momentary weightlessness.
Had enough excitement? Take a relaxing inner tube float on the lazy river ride. Close your eyes and drift, trying not to bump anyone. Think about collisions in the asteroid belt (meteorites) or the formation of planets from planetesimals (new solar systems). Later at night, the midway is illuminated with incandescent and neon lights. Or blackbody and emission sources, like stars and nebulae. You get the picture: more astrophysics to enjoy!
While it might seem like an odd place for a classroom, you can see a lot of astrophysics at an amusement park. For the price of admission, you can enjoy the astrophysical thrills of the rides from the sidelines. Or while waiting in line, if you’re brave enough...
My kids assisted me in this summer's astrophysical studies at Dorney Park and Paramount Kings Island. Moondark is written by Doug Miller, published on the web, and printed in the Delmarva Star Gazers' Star Gazer News. Please address comments and suggestions to dcmiller@dmv.com. This document was last revised on 21 October 2001. All text and images copyright © 2001 Douglas C. Miller, All Rights Reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any form without prior permission.
