TR: "Scream Machines: Science of Roller Coasters"

[kevings]

Got up early this morning (for a Sunday), picked up my friend Josh, and headed down the highway to the Ontario Science Center, where all summer there has been an exhibit called “Scream Machines: The Science of Roller Coasters”. We met our friend Lara and her son Rob and proceeded to have a good time at the museum.

 

The exhibit was fairly small, but fun. The coolest exhibit was called G Force which showed how force plays on you body when you’re on rides. Basically it was a bicycle in a large vertical loop of track, attached to an axle, and counterweighted. After a small push, and some exhausting pedaling, it was possible to get going fast enough to make it all the way over the top. Rob and I tried, but neither of us were fit enough to get all the way around. I was close, but the bike lost traction when upside down.

 

There was a revolving room, and a spinning floor, and a room full of strobe lights, but the only other exhibit worth mentioning was a “classic coaster simulator”. Basically, in a small, dark room was a screen, and what looked like a classic coaster train. While the screen showed a POV video of a coaster, the seats bumped up and down or tilted left or right. Josh and I “rode” the Comet (don’t ask me which one) and Lara and Rob “rode” Desperado. This was the cheesiest “ride” I’ve ever been on.

 

The time for the Imax movie was coming up soon, so instead of heading into the main exhibit space of the museum, we checked out a pretty awesome coaster model, and the gift shop. Let me tell you that science museums sell the best stuff. The collection of giant plush microbes had us rolling with laughter. Who buys cute fuzzy ebola viruses, or athlete’s foot or hepatitis?

 

The movie was “Ocean Men” about guys who free dive, which is going to crazy depths with only the air in their lungs. It was a good movie, but we sat in the second row, and with the curved Omnimax screen we got cricks in our necks straining to see the top.

 

The rest of the museum was typical science center stuff. We saw the rainforest, how caves are made, amphibians and insects. The Science Arcade was full of exhibits that I remember from elementary school like hair standing on end, kinetic energy displays and sound waves, cool but in desperate need of an upgrade. The museum is undergoing a huge renovation and I don’t think I’d return until it’s complete.

 

We left the Science Center about 3:30, went to Yorkdale Mall, had some lunch, did some shopping, then came home. All in all, a good day of having fun with friends and maybe learning something about science.

 

Nah, I don’t think there was any learning going on.

and an Owl Hat!

The Black Death...

Ebola...

Hepatitis...

Things to put on the shopping list...

 

The Common Cold...

Look how much fun Lara and Rob are having riding Desperado

The rides that were "simluated"

Kev on G Force

SCREAM MACHINES

[pgathriller]

Where are the great ones? Those coasters weren't great.

[CoasterFanatic]

Very interesting. Hope this finds it's way to the Carnegie in Pittsburgh. I actually visited the Ontario Science Center back in 1989 and it destroys every one I have seen since.

[USRoadTripper]

I can get Ebola for only $8 Canadian?!?! I'll take three!

-Julie

[DenDen]

I want Hepatitis! LOL