Bartlett, Albert A., "Which Way is ‘UP’ or the ‘Force of Gravity’ in Some Simple Accelerated Systems." The Physics Teacher, Volume 10, Number 8, pp. 429-437. November 1972.
Article on defining frames of reference.
Escobar, Carole, "Amusement Park Physics," The Physics Teacher, Volume 28 pp. 446-453. October 1990.
Excellent background source for teachers. Exploratorium Quarterly, Volume 11, Issue 2. Summer 1987 (entire issue).
This has a broad review of the science and talks of illusions in the carnival area. Exploratorium
Jones, Christopher, "What a Blast," Compressed Air, Volume
103, Number 6, pp. 22-29. September 1998. The only review to date of a
new kind of thrill ride that runs on compressed air.
McGehee, John, "Physics Students’ Day at Six Flags/Magic Mountain," The Physics Teacher, Volume 26, Number 1, pp. 12-17, January 1988.
Description of Physics Day at Six Flags/Magic Mountain.
Roeder, John L., "Physics and the Amusement Park," The Physics Teacher, Volume 13, Number 6, pp. 327-332. September 1975.
Discussion of field trip and some science of the amusement park.
Walker, Jean, "The Amateur Scientist," Scientific American, Volume 249, Number 4, pp. 162-169. October 1983. An excellent non-mathematical article detailing the physics of many rides.
Bound Materials
Anderson, Norman, Ferris Wheels: An Illustrated History, Bowling
Green State University Popular Press, 1992. An outstanding scholarly
work on the history and construction of Ferris Wheels. Includes
numerous references, patent drawings, etc.
Cartmell, Robert, The Incredible Scream Machine: A History of the Roller Coaster, Amusement Park Books, Inc., Fairview Park, OH 44126. 1987. History and construction of roller coasters. Some engineering notes.
Escobar, Carole, editor, Amusement Park Physics Handbook, Amusement
Park Physics Handbook Committee, American Association of Physics
Teachers, College Park, MD. 1989. Major resource for teachers. Includes
activities and TPT article reprints.
Gryczan, Matthew, Carnival Secrets. How to Win at Carnival Games, Which Games to Avoid, How to Make Your Own Games, Piccadilly Books, Colorado Springs, CO, 1993.
Outstanding paperback that discusses the science, probability, and
construction of carnival games. Some can be easily made into physics
labs.
Mangels, William F., The Outdoor Amusement Industry: From Earliest Times to the Present, 1952. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 52-13299.
History of amusement parks and carnivals.
Munch, Richard, Harry G. Traver: Legends of Terror, Amusement Park Books, Mentor, OH. 1982. ISBN 0-935408-02-9
Biographical information about a roller coaster designer. Has track layouts.