Fun Park Physics

More than 6,000 budding scientists descended on Utah's Lagoon amusement park May 20 for hands-on learning experiences, academic competition and fun.

 

As part of Utah State University's 15th annual Physics Day at Lagoon, physics students from middle and high schools throughout the Intermountain West explored such basic physics concepts as gravity and centrifugal force, all while enjoying the thrills of northern Utah's überplayground.

 

Students were invited to participate in the Sky Drop Contest, where students dropped eggs off the Sky Ride onto a target; the Rocket Launch Contest, where students designed, built and launched their own rockets; and the G-Forces Contest, where students were challenged to figure out the G-force on Lagoon's rollercoaster, Colossus. Other activities included Demonstration Design, Ride Design and Logo Design contests.

 

"Science is kind of fun now," said Krystal Smith from Granite Park Middle School, who designed an amusement park ride with her friend and classmate Cassie Sleight. "I can't wait to take chemistry class next year."

 

"We are having fun and this was a great assignment," said Sleight.

 

USU Physics Day is meant to motivate students' interest in science and to relate abstract concepts to familiar examples in a fun way, said J.R. Dennison, Utah State physics professor and event organizer.

 

"What better laboratory to entice young people than an amusement park?" said Dennison.

 

Cypress High School student Cory Orlpeza, who was participating in the rocket launch competition, said the day piqued his interest in science.

 

"I used to be into science a lot when I was younger, but when I got into junior high it got kind of boring," said Orlpeza. "But after today, I am looking forward to science classes next year and hope that I have a great teacher who excites me."

 

Jamie Curd, from North Layton Junior High, had been practicing for the Egg Drop Contest from home.

 

"My egg won't break," said Curd. "I made this special container to hold the egg and threw it off my roof several times before coming here. This is a lot of fun."

 

Box Elder High School students Oliver Mesbrui, Jake Gallagher and Tyson Bunn concurred.

 

"Our eggs will survive and we will be the champions," they said.

 

Several students were lucky to leave Lagoon as champions after the days events. The USU Physics Bowl Champions took home the most prestigious prize, four-year scholarships to Utah State. Six students, including Matthew Argyle, Christopher Bliss and Nathaniel Nash from Riverton High School in Utah, and Ryan Norman, Craig Bidstrup and Jacob Lundeen from Hillcrest High School in Idaho Falls, Idaho, were the lucky winners. More than $50,000 in prizes and awards were given to contest participants.

 

Event participation has steadily grown since it was initiated by Utah State's physics department in 1990. The department sponsored the event with 13 other governmental and higher education organizations. Sponsors included: Idaho National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory – West, Boeing, Lagoon, Mathsoft Engineering and Education, Moog Aircraft Group, NitroCision, Marie Putnam, Thiokol, U.S. Navy, USU College of Science, USU Office of Recruitment and Enrollment Services, Ron and Susan Warnecke, Rocky Mountain NASA Space Grant Consortium and Idaho NASA Space Grant Consortium.

 

"There is a lot of science, especially physics, in an amusement park," said Dick Andrew, marketing director for Lagoon. "USU Physics Day at Lagoon has become a tradition and a great way to prove to students that science can be fun."

 

For more information about Physics Day, contact Dennison at (435) 797-2936.

 

Contacts: J.R. Dennison, (435) 797-2936

Writer:  Maren Cartwright, (435) 797-1355