Article by Phoenix writer Isabel Connolly ’23:
On Wednesday, November 10, a group of 16 juniors and seniors spent the school day at iFLY located in Westchester. Upon arrival the students learned about the physics behind free fall, one would experience skydiving. They were taught on the components of drag coefficient and terminal velocity. They were given special jumpsuits before getting to experience their free fall. They experienced the equivalent of two free falls at speeds anywhere from 90 mph to 105 mph.
Each student spent 2 minutes in the wind tunnel, experiencing the equivalent of two free falls at speeds anywhere from 90 mph to 105 mph. These students had learned about terminal velocity and free fall in their respective physics classes, but their day at iFLY offered the students, a real world application with physics. They got to see the laws through a concrete experience.
Junior Angelina Scalice noted that, “It was such a cool trip. I’ve always loved physics, and being able to learn in such an interactive environment was such an amazing thing. I’d totally recommend it to anyone interested”
The trip to iFLY was one of the many emerging opportunities Kellenberg has for students
interested in STEM to learn beyond the classroom. The trip was a wonderful opportunity for students to experience physics first-hand, and a great day overall.