Beyond the Classroom
Physics you can feel
Forces & Motion • Energy • Speed & Acceleration
Experience physics in action on thrilling rides, discovering how forces, motion and energy shape movement in the real world.
- Feel the forces you've read about in textbooks
- Turn thrilling shared experiences into classroom discussions
- Analyse real ride data through graphs and calculationsÂ
- Apply physics to every twist, turn and dropÂ
- Inspire follow-up investigations back at schoolÂ
Real world impact =Â Students experience how physics is applied through real engineering systems, connecting classroom concepts to the world around them.
Why choose this as a trip?
- KS3–KS4 Physics curriculum links
- Makes abstract concepts tangible and memorable
- Demonstrates engineering, safety and design in practice
- Encourages investigation, discussion and real-world application
A "Big Question" Trip Guide
How Do Engineers Use Physics To Create Thrilling Experiences?
Use the prompts below to help pupils gather evidence throughout their visit.
| What to Observe | What might this tell us about physics and engineering? |
| Roller coaster climbs and drops | How gravitational potential energy is transferred into kinetic energy |
| High-speed sections | How forces affect speed and acceleration |
| Loops, turns and inversions | How engineers use forces to control movement |
| Ride restraints and safety systems | How engineering keeps riders safe |
| Different ride designs | How different systems create different physical experiences |
| Launch mechanisms | How energy is transferred to create motion |
| Ride structures and track design | How engineering supports forces acting on rides Passenger reactions |
| Passenger reactions | How forces can be felt by the human body |
End-of-Visit Reflection: Ask pupils to categorise their observations into four themes:
| Theme | Evidence from the Park |
| Forces | Where could you see or feel forces acting? |
| Energy | How was energy transferred throughout rides? |
| Motion | How did rides speed up, slow down or change direction? |
| Engineering | What design features helped create a safe but thrilling experience? |
Discuss: What Makes A Ride Thrilling?
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