Our Year 13 Physics students recently swapped the classroom for rollercoasters, heading to Rainbow’s End for a thrilling, hands-on physics experience! 

From calculating g-forces on the Stratosfear to feeling the rush of acceleration on the Corkscrew Coaster, the trip was a perfect blend of theory and thrills.

Observations were recorded on their worksheets to support the NCEA Internal Assessment work: ‘Demonstrate understanding of the application of physics to a selected context.’  Students applied physics laws to various ride mechanisms, observing torque, circular motion, and simple harmonic motion in a real-world setting.

Our students left with a better understanding of how physics principles maximise the enjoyment of amusement rides, showing that physics extends far beyond the classroom walls!