My family attended the Properties of Motion class yesterday (Juy 14, 2010).
We are me, DW, DD (17 yo), and DSs (8, 9, 10 y/o).
We arrived at the TTC at 7am. Parking lot open and trams running, but no attendants. Got the best parking spot I'm ever going to get. Walked to a building just to the right of the ticket booths. There had been no mention of where the YES group was supposed to meet, but this was the only visible non-CM group at the TTC, so they were easy to find.
The class had about 36 students and perhaps 24 parents (60 in all). We were broken into three groups. Our group had twelve students. Most looked to be 7th-10th graders, but my kids were older and younger than this.
Class was supposed to start at 7:15am, but we had to wait for one student. Turns out they were waiting in another part of the TTC. It was quite muggy and 82 degrees out,making outside activities mildly uncomfortable.
We were supposed to start the class on the monorail, but the monorails were undergoing a safety check, so we all boarded a bus to the MK.
Once at the MK, our teacher, Ned (27ish, part time chemistry teacher from Boston) began the class, near the Seven Seas lagoon. He brought out a Mickey head ornament hanging on a string and asked students to name some of its properties. Eventually got around to a discussion of inertia. Discussed the difference between speed and velocity, acceleration and Newton's 2nd law.
Ned mixed in lots of Disney stuff into the class. Whenever some part of the park disrupted his discussion, such as the railroad whistle or a character walked by, he would say something like, "Well, there's part of that Disney magic!" and continued on. He also brought in the movie Hercules. We had to slap our heads and shout "Oh, Herc!", which was actually O-H-E-R-C, which are letters that represent the scientific process (Observation, Hypothesis, Experimentation, Recording, Conclusion).
Ned was quite patient. Certain members of our group were very high maintainance. One student did not participate in anything. Another kept asking what rides we were going on and for free ice cream, but had little interest in the class. Others needed bathroom breaks at bad times and another parent determined that she couldn't make the walking and needed a
scooter. Ben managed these quite well so that the class was not disrupted.
Walked into the park at 7:50 am (after a bag check and running tickets through the reader). Main street was far from empty, but it was not mobbed.
Walked to Tommorrowland. Took lots of video on the way, but at Tommorrowland, there was a rope across the entrance, just past the bridge. At that point we were instructed to stop taking pictures.
Walked to an area just to the right of Space Mountain. He had set up three small roller coaster like tracks that used marbles instead of cars. One had a loop, the next a simple curve, the next a simple hump. Ned explained the concepts of potential and kinetic energy, first by bouncing a golf ball and then by having the students (broken into three groups of four) try out the mini roller coasters. Students made measurements of how high the marble had to start to complete each roller coaster.
Then we rode on Space Mountain. First with the lights on, then with the lights off. Really cool to see. However, with the lights on, Space Mountain is a real lame ride. Good thing its done in the dark.
We were supposed to estimate (1) max speed, (2) max height, (3) height of largest drop, (4) length of ride. These guesses were made after riding with the lights on, the off, then he gave the answer.
Then we learned about pneumatics and hydraulics. He had a
Lego toy to show this.
Then we went to Buzz Lightyear, just as the park was opening. Got to see the mad rush to Space Moutain. People dragging frightened children by the hand to be first in line to Space Mountain look really silly from the side.
We rode Buzz Lightyear to find examples of pneumatics and hydraulics. And wrote them down after.
Then we walked across the park and stopped in front of the Liberty Tree Tavern for a lecture on centriputal force. Learned about F=mv2/r. He had a picture of Mickey Mouse riding on a curvy road and each group of kids were asked to pick out F, m, v and r in the picture. Also learned about g-forces and lateral forces.
Then we all rode BTMRR to experience g-forces and lateral forces.
Had a brief discussion of the experience afterwards. Then class ended around 10 am.
Excellent class and teacher. It would have been worth it just for the parking spot. But also got early entry into MK and got to ride SM with lights on. And a fantastic phyisics class. Well worth it.
