Students Explore Physics at Lagoon

Thousands of students from Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Nevada visited Lagoon amusement park on Friday to apply physics principles to rides and experiments. Utah State University representatives coordinated the annual Physics Day, now in its 38th year. Students prepared projects in their science classes before arriving at the Farmington park.

They measured g-forces on rides and designed roller coaster models. A popular event involved dropping eggs from the 40-foot SkyCoaster, challenging students to protect them during the fall and aim for a target. Fifth graders Hattie Kercher and Winslo Wilson, along with eighth grader Raiden Hess, expressed increased interest in physics through the hands-on activities.

USU physics professor JR Dennison, who helped launch the event, noted the importance of connecting classroom concepts to real-world applications. He also highlighted the value of STEM career exposure, hoping to inspire a few students to pursue those fields. While teachers do much of the preparation, Dennison expects Physics Day to continue for years to come.