Physics in the Park

In April 2010, the APS outreach team, along with the Society of Physics Students (SPS) and the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), helped bring physics to the amusement park by participating in Six-Flags America's annual Physics in the Park Day.

Every year Six Flags attracts several thousand local physics students including both middle and high school students. Volunteers handed out accelerometers to students at 4 of the most popular rides. Students were able to wear the accelerometers on the rides and then view and print out their data. For many students, this clarified the physics concepts they had been learning throughout the year in a very exciting way.

In addition to enjoying the rides, several teams of students designed their own rides for the annual roller coaster contest. Even waiting in line had a physics component as SPS volunteers performed some of their favorite demos for students as they waited. Thirty volunteers including 15 SPS student participated in the day.

Roller Coaster at Six Flags America in Largo, Maryland