Madison Reporter

More than 430 students from Middleton High School recently attended the annual physics field trip to Six Flags Great America in Illinois. This event has become a tradition for students enrolled in physics classes at the school.

Middleton High School physics teacher Angie Humphrey emphasized the educational value of the trip, stating, “Six Flags is the perfect place to see physics in action. You can observe conservation of energy, measure speed and acceleration, hear the Doppler effect, and so much more.”

The school's physics department has organized this trip every May for over three decades. According to Humphrey, participation numbers have been increasing each year. The trip is available to any student taking physics, mainly targeting juniors and seniors.

Humphrey noted that the experience provides students with "an appreciation for physics in the real world." She highlighted that many students encounter several first-time experiences during this outing. “My favorite part of the trip is the many firsts for our students,” she said. “We have students who have never left the state of Wisconsin, never rode on a coach bus, and have never ridden a roller coaster. This is a special day for them.”

The trip's accessibility is made possible through contributions from donors. “We have many generous donors who help make this trip accessible for all students,” Humphrey added. “We are very grateful for their support.”