By Franki Scali
Matrix Staff Writer
Volume XXXVIII: Issue 5: Page 1
Athens High School ride a roller-coaster at King's Island during the 2009 physics field trip. This year, there will be a physics field day due to scheduling conflicts.
Physics students at Athens High School are facing a change of pace with the cancellation of the annual field trip to King’s Island. The trip has been an AHS tradition since 1983. While many students grieve the change, alternative activities are being planned and physics fun will still live on.
According to Athens High Physics teacher Tom Stork, this year the trip was canceled because of scheduling difficulties.
Because final exams are earlier than usual, finding a date after the King’s Island opening that did not interfere with ongoing activities was difficult.
The trip offered “an opportunity to apply physics in a novel context,” said Stork.
Senior Alane Suhr who took physics last year attended the physics field trip to King’s Island and agreed. “In addition to learning a lot about how physics is important and applies practically to every aspect of an amusement park, the trip was a really fun experience.”
In past years, students would meet at the school before classes began to leave for the amusement park in Mason, Ohio. Tickets cost about $25 per student. Each student would be given a packet of worksheets, each of which was personalized for a specific Kings Island ride.
Students were responsible for completing a certain number of worksheets. That meant calculating the speed of roller coasters, the angular velocity of the Merry-Go-Round or the height of the Eiffel Tower Replica.
“Although it was hard to do calculations during the trip, we could still collect data and have fun… even though I only rode the easiest roller coasters,” Suhr said.
Fortunately, there are still many learning opportunities available for students at this year’s physics field day, which is scheduled for May 11.
The event, which will take place on AHS grounds, will give students the opportunity to prepare stations and spend a day outside learning about physics.
The physics field day will include events such as cardboard boat racing and a slip n’ slide.
This will be the first physics field day event since 1994, when the field trip to King’s Island was canceled due to budget issues.
Many students express sadness at the end of this tradition. “It’s really unfortunate the trip was canceled,” said Junior Jacob Pratt.
“That’s one thing you can look forward to when you are going through something as difficult as physics,” agreed Senior Abby Pomento.
Hopefully the physics field day will provide an entertaining alternative to the trip and become a favorite tradition of its own.