Amusement Park Physics - Circular Rides

The following lessons illustrate the forces on the occupants of various amusement park rides.

Tea Cups
single cup [overhead view]

group of cups [overhead view]
Merry-Go-Round
[front view]
[overhead view]
Swings
[front viewslow]
[front view fast]
[overhead view]
The Air Racer
[overhead view]
[front view]		 airacer.jpg (81336 bytes)
Viking, Frenzoid
[side view at top]
[side view at side]
[side view at bottom]		  
Kangaroo
[front view]
[overhead view]		 Kangaroo ride
Flying paratroopers
[front view slow]
[front view fast]
 paratr.gif (36152 bytes)
air ships
[front view fast]
[front view slow]		 phantom phlyer
Round-up
[overhead view]
[side view flat]
[side view tipped]
  
Gravitron, Turkish Twist, UFO
[overhead view]
[side view]
[side view w/ floor gone]		  
The Himalaya (cars on wheels, hills and valleys, no banked turns)
[overhead view]
[side view]
[front view]		  
The Flying Bobs (cars on a pivot arm, free to bank as needed, not touching the ground)
[overhead view]
[front view]		  

Photos courtesy Joe Schwartz, used with permission.

[Home]  [Lessons]  [Review] 

This web site is designed and maintained by Science Joy Wagon and may not be reproduced or redistributed without written permission from Science Joy Wagon.
Contact with comments.