It’s been a minute; but I’ve taken groups to King’s Dominion to test Amusement Park Physics. First, below are resources specifically for amusement parks. (In another life I taught in private, prep schools. Parents didn’t flinch at the price of tickets for a day at the park.) If you go to an amusement park, check to see if the park has educational materials on its website or start with HST’s guide. Below this information are ways to simulate amusement park science at home.
1. Kings Dominion has Elementary, Middle School, and High School workbooks. (They are a weak.). Many amusement parks have Education Days, with discounted tickets. (Not cheap—but cheaper.). Call the park and ask about the educator workshops the park offers to teachers before the park opens. When I taught Physical Science, I took the workshop at Kings Dominion. It was very helpful! Six Flags, Carowinds, Dorney Park, Busch Gardens, and Hershey Park all have Education Days. Call the park to see if they have free educator days, too.
2. Hershey’s Park has a fabulous Physics Worksheet with samples of Horizontal and Vertical Accelerometers. (Here is the PASCO kit—very pricey, but easy to follow. Try Hershey’s videos. Look at the Six Flags Teacher’s Manual, too.
3. Disney Imagination Campus has Science and Technology workshops, including Physics. Here is the 2026 pricing information. Wow.
What about ways to simulate amusement park physics at home?
1. NASA’s Amusement Park Physics , while designed for a visit to the park, has ideas to test at home. Similarly, Going Wild has a few ideas, such as tossing a cup of water or tying a ball with string to your wrist.
2. Roller Coasters: Build Roller Coasters, Physics Classroom’s Roller Coasters, and STEM Lesson.
3. Amusement Park Physics Lessons uses PhET Interactives and has loads of links with graphics and simulations.
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