Forces At The Theme Park

From the first pleasure gardens to the global theme park companies, this book provides an understanding of the nature and function of theme parks as spaces of entertainment. It portrays the impacts of theme parks as global competitive actors, agents of global development and cultural symbols, in the context of their role in the developing economy.

It's time for fun at the theme park! But did you know science is at work behind the scenes? Feeling the thrill as the rollercoaster plunges down the big hill? That's gravitational force at work. Sticking to the graviton ride's walls like glue? That's the result of centripetal force. Find out more about the forces behind the fun.

This book will be a hit with both thrill seekers and with those who prefer to stay safely on the ground. After an introduction to Newton's three laws of motion, readers learn the mechanics of various amusement park rides including roller coasters, Ferris wheels, merry-go-rounds, and gravity rides. They learn how to measure motion, and how kinetic and potential energy apply to their favorite rides.

The prevalence and influence of "theming" increased so dramatically during the 1990s that theme parks have become a metaphor for postmodern urban life. But few scholarly studies focus on the landscapes in theme parks. This volume's authors examine themed landscapes in Asia, Europe, and North America in response to this worldwide development.