Wednesday, August 16:
Disney Imagination Campus
Disney’s Hollywood Studios - Orlando
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Walt Disney World is a world-class innovation and technology STEAM center of excellence and one of the world’s most creative and visionary organizations. “The Physics of Disney” was the workshop theme selected by Disney Imagineers at the Disney Imagination Campus, and Tech Talent awardees learned of all the STEM topics that lie behind the Disney “Magic”. After a warm welcome by senior Walt Disney World executives, Imagineers Amanda and Jeff took the group on a 3-hour whirlwind interactive tour of the physics, thermodynamics, magnetics, and laws of motion and gravity at work behind the scenes of Disney’s Hollywood Studios that make the magic come alive. The whole workshop was devoted to the application of STEM learning to the creation of Disney’s innovative theme parks, and making Disney stories and characters come to life – through the relentless pursuit of “What If?”
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Our Imagineers engaged the students with probing questions about laws of motion (inertia and friction), physics, and magnetics. The workshop began at the “Twilight Zone Tower of Terror”, exploring the physics and engineering behind the fabled “Falling Elevator”; the group emerged from the Tower still screaming! Next stop was the electromagnetics of the “Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith”, a rocket-fast ride in the dark. After some hands-on demonstrations of more physics concepts, the workshop ended at the “Slinky-Dog Dash” open-air rollercoaster in “Toy Story Land”. The group finished their day at Hollywood Studios with a visit to “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge”, hopped in a simulator ride, and interacted with the animatronic Star Wars characters, and ended their day with a spectacular light show and fireworks.
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