Amusement Parks

This interactive exhibit, part of the Exhibits Collection, explores how the laws of physics play a role in the design of amusement park rides. Activities in the exhibit invite visitors to design a roller coaster and determine the outcomes of bumper car collisions. The exhibit also includes related Web sites.

Looking for statistics on the fastest, tallest or longest roller coasters? Find it all and much more with the interactive Roller Coaster Database.

Encyclopaedia Britannica presents Roller Coasters: Inventing the Scream Machine, detailing the rise, fall, and rebirth of this thrilling summer pastime. Historical photographs, in-depth biographies, and animated films add flavor to the site, which features an interactive virtual tour called Ride the Coaster that explains the physics of motion.