Formula for Thrills
Interactive physics education platform for Siemens combining rollercoaster simulation with gravitational potential energy calculations.
Interactive physics simulation teaching energy concepts through rollercoaster design
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