Film Science Questions for: Great Old Amusement Parks

Background: at the dawn of the 20^th Century, amusement parks were a huge part of many people's lives. They influenced the social, economic and technological climate of the early 1900's. This video has a website at: http://www.wqed.org/tv/natl/amusement/ap_story.shtml   Further info can be found through:

http://www.postgazette.com/tv/19990718owen.asp

1. Of the 2 000 amusement parks in existence in 1919, how many are still in operation today?

2. How does the atmosphere of old amusement parks like Idlewild Park (opened in 1878) compare with that of large, modern parks?

3. In 1930 and 1937, what two types of rides were made by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, the PTC, for Idlewild Park?

4. At 11:24 AM, the trolley ride through Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood (he helped design it in the 1980's) is 10 m past a certain tree. At 11:27 AM it is 250 m past the tree. Find the average velocity.

5. At Cedar Point (opened in 1870), what ride is described as the heartbeat of amusement parks?

6. a) What is the importance of Coney Island in the history of amusement parks?

b) Coney Island's Cyclone is inspected how frequently?

c) What torque is created on a rusted nut by an inspector applying a 15 N force halfway along a 30 cm long wrench?

d) What ride was often seen sooner than the Statue of Liberty by immigrants sailing toward New York Harbour?

7. a) At the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (opened in 1904), what force keeps the horses on the classic 1911 Looff carousel horse moving in a circle?

b) As a person is carried around, they loose their ring. What is its escape path?

8. How does the concept of Lake Compounce (opened in 1846) differ from the other parks we've seen?

9. At which point in its motion are the parts of Kennywood's The Whip under the greatest strain?

10. Review: after 3 s, what is the downward velocity of a person on Kennywood's Pitt Fall freefall ride?

11. Why must the attendants "dancing" on the platform of Playland's Derby Racer lean back?

12. Find the period of Playland's 25 m long, 12 000 kg Sea Dragon "pendulum" ride.

13. a) What centripetal force keeps a 450 kg bumper car at The Oaks Park (opened in 1905) moving in a 7.5 m radius circle if its period is 4.8 s?

b) What centripetal acceleration keeps the car moving in the circle?

14. a) Find the centripetal acceleration keeping a skater at The Oaks Park Roller Skating Rink moving in a 15 m radius circle if it takes them 1.3 mins for one circle around the maple floor.

b) What inward force must the skater create if she weighs 500 N?

15. Find the centripetal acceleration needed to keep an animal fixed to the 12 m diameter platform of the 1916 PTC carousel at Lake Winnepesaukah as it spins around at 1.5 m/s.

16. Find the period of Whalom Park's Barrel of Fun if it has a 3 m diameter and is moving at 4 m/s.

17. At Whalom Park, (opened in 1893), what torque is created by a maintenance person applying a 15 N force to a door on The Looper 30 cm from its hinges?

18. Why does Whalom's "mixed" Looff carousel, like all American carousels, rotate counterclockwise?

19. In the end, the contestants on the Giant Dipper at Belmont Park made how many laps in their quest for the $50 000?