December 3, 2010

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay opens a full hour early, at 9:00 a.m. for exclusive use by physics students! Roller coasters will be open!

Engage your students with the experience of physics in action! Our "science of thrills" expert, Dr. David Wright, Professor of Physics at Tidewater Community College in Virginia, will motivate your students by bringing physics to life in the exciting surroundings of our world-class theme park. Physics students will also get one hour of exclusive park ride time plus a live "Physics in Motion" interactive show

Enhance your students' educational experience by visiting the Biomechanics Stations located at Kenya Pavilion and Edge of Africa from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Measure bite force, take a closer look at 'super' abilities, and estimate the speed of a variety of animals. Animal Biomechanics Stations' locations:

Location: Edge of Africa - Hyena Exhibit

• "This Bites!" – Students will learn the physics behind the bite force of some of the world’s strongest carnivores. Attend a hyena feeding: 1:15 p.m.

Location: Kenya Pavilion – Across from the Nairobi Train Station

• "I Feel the Need for Speed" – Students will learn how to clock an animal’s speed by measuring it’s body and stride lengths.
• "Physics of Superman"– Students will take a closer look at the biomechanics of animal movement and discover what it would take for humans to have the same physical abilities, particularly the ability of flight.
• "Meet a Busch Gardens Animal Ambassador" : 11:15 a.m. & 2:15 p.m.
• "The Power of Oobleck" – Students gain “hands-in” knowledge of this mysterious non-Newtonian fluid to learn about its unique properties that seem to defy Newton’s Laws

Teachers will receive a free copy of a physics guide packed full of in-class instructions with advanced registration.