Skyview Eighth Grade students will have the opportunity to experience a rewarding and unique educational experience at ValleyfairPhysics Day on Wednesday, May 18thfrom 10 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.
This is a supplemental academic field trip and students will be responsible for completing a packet of questions and calculations on the physics of the rides before they leave Valleyfair. Students who are not able to attend will complete an alternate version of the packet for equal credit at Skyview during regular school hours on that day. All data that students would collect themselves at Valleyfair will be provided for the completion of calculations in the packet.
Included in the trip:
- A picnic lunch (includes sandwiches, chips, fruit, cookies, & drink). Students will still be allowed to buy food from the concessions at Valleyfair (but please keep in mind this may be expensive, lines may be long, and choices may be limited because it is early in the season).
- Bus transportation
- Admission ticket to Valleyfair
Bus transportation from Skyview to Valleyfair and back will be provided. Students will be responsible for a ride home from Skyview at approximately 6:15 P.M. All students must ride the bus to and from Valleyfair. Students that have a conflict that cannot be rescheduled and would require them to leave Valleyfair early will not be able to attend. They will complete the alternate packet at Skyview.
Valleyfair Physics Day is an opportunity for students to experience, first-hand, concepts and ideas discussed over the past three years in science class. The field trip to Valleyfair will be the finale to our Physics Unit. Students will be required to answer scientific questions regarding different amusement park rides. Students will be required to complete several stations throughout Valleyfair. Each station will have at least two chaperones whom students will check in with in order to fulfill the requirement at that station. In order to answer questions relating to the science of the rides, students will have to draw on their knowledge of physics. Questions will also require knowledge from the other subject areas taught at Skyview. Each student will be responsible for completing a packet; group work is encouraged. Going on the rides is NOT necessary to complete the packet.
Calculations and problems in the packet may include:
• Calculate the velocity of the Power Tower drop.
• Use Newton’s third law of motion and the Law of Conservation of Momentum to explain Bumper Cars • Describe how the Xtreme Swing behaves as a pendulum
• Calculate the potential energy of the Wild Thing.
• Other tasks will include various assignments incorporating other subjects
While you are making the observations and taking measurements Valleyfair has asked that we observe the following rules to insure your safety and the safety of others.
1.Your activities must not interfere with the operation of any ride or interfere with a park employee's job.
2.Stay in public access areas only.
3.Follow all park rules.
4.Follow the directions of any park employee or adult.
5.Show proper respect to other park guests.
If you have further questions please feel free to call your child’s science teacher:
Janene Lenard at 651-702-8088 or Lauren VanOverbeke at 651-702-8089.