Whitefish physics class visits local resort for hands-on education
<p>Keaton Grove goes down the zip line as the rest of the physics class watches at Whitefish Mountain Resort Friday. The Whitefish physics class collected data to use the rest of the year as they learn about velocity, friction, time, distance and other physics topics. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Whitefish Physics student Sarah Latcham goes down a zipline during a field trip at the Whitefish Mountain Resort on Friday. The class collected data to use the rest of the year as they learn about velocity, friction, time, distance and other physics topics. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Trystan Peacock flies down the zip line at the Whitefish Mountain Resort Friday as part of a field trip for physics. The Whitefish physics class collected data to use the rest of the year as they learn about velocity, friction, time, distance and other physics topics. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Sarah Latcham, left, and Emmitt Schmidt take notes and Adrien Leroax serves as a desk during the Whitefish physics field trip on Friday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
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Is physics fun? Maybe not for everyone, but fun is definitely filled with physics.
That’s what Whitefish High School physics students in Todd Spangler’s class learned as they put their knowledge into action on a zip line, chairlift, alpine slide and aerial adventure park Friday at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
“They get to see real-world applications,” Spangler said.
With smartphones in hand, students tried each activity while taking video and pictures and using apps to gather data they will analyze throughout the year as they learn physics concepts in class.
“[In class] we’re just now starting to take a look at using video in frame-by-frame analysis to take a look at position, then velocity, then acceleration,” Spangler said while riding a chairlift. “On this chairlift somebody can video us. They can mark a point in the video and then they can go — typically 30 frames is a second — and mark another point and mark the distance to see how fast it’s going.”
Velocity, acceleration, force, friction and energy were just some of the concepts students focused on. From the spring-braking system of the zip line to special locking carabiners students used to attach themselves to cables in the aerial adventure park, physics was at work at every turn.
“There’s a lot of physics that goes into the design of those carabiners and the strength of the webbing in the harnesses,” Spangler said.
Bill Cubbage, Whitefish Mountain Resort summer recreation and snow sports director, guided the class around the resort.
Friday marked the first time he has had a high school class come to the resort to study physics, but Cubbage said physics plays a big part in the construction, maintenance and safety of the resort’s various structures. Physics also goes into designing new activities that will be appealing to visitors.
“We look at what guests are experiencing — what they’re going to have fun with. I definitely think about how the physics plays into that,” Cubbage said.
After discussing some of the mechanics of a detachable chairlift, students moved on to the alpine slide. Spangler talked briefly about the lever and braking system.
“The braking system works on a friction concept,” Spangler said.
Before trying a short zip line, Cubbage described the braking system composed of stacked springs used to stop people at the end. The zip lines are designed for people weighing between 60 to 230 pounds, Cubbage said.
“There are four different densities. These little skinny ones up in front are 15-pounders, so it takes 15 pounds of force in order to close that spring one inch,” Cubbage said.
Students then went back to the base lodge to put on safety harnesses and prepare to experience the power of physics. Students learned about the different positions that could alter their speed down the zip line.
“Think about aerodynamics,” Spangler reminded the students.
All 15 students took their turns down the zip line with much enthusiasm while their classmates estimated measurements such as height, distance and time.
At another zip line, students were asked to line up and record video of a resort staff member coming down the zip line and take more data. Student Lindsay Wendt pulled up a clinometer and bubble-level app on her phone. Lining up one side of her phone to the zip line cable out in the distance, she jotted down some angle measurements on a worksheet.
This is the second year the school has used a “bring your own device” policy that allows students to use their cellphones in class under teacher supervision.
“This is it,” Wendt said, indicating her phone. “We don’t have to carry different tools around.”
Over at the aerial adventure park — an obstacle course built among treetops — excitement built up for Wendt and classmate Sarah Latcham.
“This is way better than the classroom,” Latcham said.
Up in the air, Latcham eventually came to a cable tightrope she had to climb across.
“When is this over?” she asked nervously.
Wendt offered some encouragement. Latcham’s mind quickly turned back to the physics assignment as she climbed down a ladder, asking Wendt about getting video and measurements of the obstacle course.
So, is physics fun? You do the math...
Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.