| Roller coasters teach physics | | Print | |
| Written by Glennis Markison | |
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Physics students rode roller coasters, scarfed junk food, and contemplated gravity on May 27 on their Great America field trip.
The trip, which included 10 classes and 300 students, was the first Great America trip in two years, since scheduling conflicts made teachers unable to take students last year. Last year “was a nightmare renting buses and students were late —just a logistical nightmare,” physics teacher Cy Prothro explained. Prothro took his students to the theme park this year so that they could make connections between their in-class lessons and how the rides work. “The rides relate to every principle in mechanics — friction, inertia, and all of Newton’s laws,” Prothro said. Although the trip is educational, no homework will be assigned. “To what extent are we making students do work?” Prothro asked. “Probably not much.” Not all students believe in a free ride. “With any fun activity, there’s always a catch with the teacher,” senior Mark Mastromonaco said. “I’m guessing there will be a roller coaster problem with some number-crunching.” Regardless of the potential aftermath on upcoming tests, students enjoyed riding roller coasters in the name of schoolwork. “It was a good idea,” sophomore Jennifer Monroe said. “It was fun. It was easy. We could all use a break.” |
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to listen.
