College Level Amusement Park Physics

我们建议通过使用带有加速度和旋转三个轴传感器的数据采集系统，从各种流行和有趣的游乐设施中收集高分辨率惯性数据，以增强“游乐园物理”活动对物理教学的效用。数据将通过Java编写的多媒体软件进行处理和显示，以允许跨平台和互联网使用。展示将包括一个动画再现，与移动的小车相连的矢量图，显示标量（如势能和动能）的条形图，以及一个同步视频显示。程序和数据将在光盘上出版，并附有印刷的补充文本。此外，相关的小程序也将在波特维尔学院的网站上提供。获得真实过山车的详细惯性数据，可以对许多物理现象进行调查，否则这些现象将仅仅是猜测。这个强大的工具允许学生从游乐园活动中返回，并在接下来的几周内继续发现过程。在初始阶段，该项目和数据将在波特维尔学院的物理、物理科学和微积分课程以及两所当地高中的课程中进行测试和评估。

We propose to enhance the utility of "Amusement Park Physics" events for physics instruction by collecting high resolution inertial data from a large variery of popular and interesting rides using a data acquisition system with sensors for three axes each of acceleration and rotation. The data will be processed and displayed by multimedia software to be written in Java to allow cross-platform and intenet usage. The displays will include an animated re-creation of the ride with vector diagiams attached to the moving cart, bar graphs showing scalar quantities such as potential and kinetic energy, and a synchronized video display. The program and data will be published on CD ROM with accompanying printed supplementary text. Also smaller related applets will be made available at the Porterville College web site. Access to the detailed inertial data for real roller coasters makes many physical phenomena accessible to investigation that would otherwise be subject to little more than speculation. This powerful tool allows classes to return from an amusement park event and continue the discovery process over the following weeks. During the initial phases, the program and data will be tested and evaluated in the physics, physical science, and calculus classes at Porterville College and in classes at the two local high schools.