There's a science to fun

10,000 students attend physics class at Six Flags theme park

GURNEE -- Physics + Six Flags Great America = Fun!

OK, maybe there was some work involved, evident by the fact that there were clutches of kids sitting on benches and at tables Thursday at Six Flags Great America filling sheets of paper and using things called "spring accelerometers" and stop watches.

About 10,000 elementary and high school students from Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan descended on the theme park for Physics Day.

"You're a failure. You don't get to time anymore," teased Alondra Campray, a senior from North Chicago High School, after another student failed to get an accurate time for a ride.

Physics teacher Jan Johnson, also known as "Dr. J," has been bringing his physics class to the event for 13 years.

"Everyone loves the amusement park and rides, and to tie in the physics lessons of gravity and g-forces is great," he said. "It's loaded with physics. We try to mix a good time and data collection," Johnson said.

The students will take their data back to school and use a lab session to analyze it. Johnson is also assigning them to write a paper about their experience just to practice writing.

"I've had everywhere from 40 to just eight students," he said.

It all depends on interest and expenses. He has an anonymous benefactor who helps cover the cost.

"Collecting the data is easy, but when you have to go back to the lab, it's not as much fun," said Christina Johnson, a senior.

"There wasn't anything really hard. It was straightforward," said Jamion Hartley, another senior.

Tiara Garland took a ride on the Tea Cup. She and her partners timed how fast they could turn the cup and which way was faster, clockwise or counterclockwise.

"Clockwise is faster because the ride is already going clockwise," she said.

Kayla Hill, who said she might major in biology, said sometimes simple tasks can be difficult.

"You wouldn't think it was hard to time (the ride), but when you are on it sometimes you mess it up," she said.

Senior Roberto Garcia had a problem most of the students wrestled with on this sunny day at the amusement park. "It's hard because we are having fun, and then its physics," he said.

Anna Cook is going into civil engineering. She has already been accepted to the University of Illinois, Champaign. "I don't do roller coasters. I like the spinning ones. I love the Tea Cups," she laughed.

Stan McConner, former physics teacher and assistant principal at North Chicago High School, summed up the day: "It's a great opportunity to see how things work."

The curriculum, which each science teacher chooses for their students, was developed by Nathan Unterman, a Glenbrook North High School science teacher. He also wrote the book "Amusement Park Physics."

Unterman said the sensations of braking and acceleration are more than just fun for the students.

"All of these are different feelings that can be put into science concepts," he said. "This should be a challenge for the student, but not overwhelming," said Unterman, who is also associated with Argonne National Laboratory.