Formula for Thrills - Physics Education Rollercoaster

About the Project

As the sole programmer for this exciting Siemens educational project, I collaborated with physicists to develop accurate simulation algorithms for rollercoaster physics education. The project combines HTML5 Canvas with Tumult Hype animations to create an engaging learning experience where students experiment with rollercoaster track heights to achieve thrilling yet safe rides. The system progresses from trial-and-error gameplay in early levels to complex physics calculations involving gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy formulas in advanced stages, complete with educational tasksheets and interactive problem-solving.

Key Features

• Collaboration with physicists on accurate simulations
• Five unique rollercoaster tracks with varying complexity
• Progressive difficulty from trial-and-error to formula application
• Interactive gravitational potential energy calculations
• Educational tasksheet system with physics problems

My Role

• Physics simulation
• Educational gameplay
• Canvas programming
• Animation integration

Technical Challenges

• Translating complex physics into accessible gameplay
• Integrating Canvas rendering with Hype animations
• Creating accurate yet engaging simulation algorithms
• Making advanced physics concepts approachable for students