The Cloudsplitter Gondola at Lake Placid, NY: a Physics Problem
The Cloudsplitter Gondola: A Physics Problem by Inaya Syed When you think of physics, you probably reply with disdain towards the subject. I know I do. However, the recent trip to Lake Placid, NY I took emphasized that you can find physics anywhere, especially by riding the Cloudsplitter Gondola. Rarely does anyone ever think of school subjects while taking a vacation. This is where I differ. I constantly revolve my world around my studies. The Cloudsplitter Gondola is a marvel; the way it takes you to the very top of the mountain, the beautiful views you see, everything is about it. I approached this with much excitement. However, as I was inside the gondola itself, I kept thinking of the physics it took to achieve this. First, the "gondola" is just a cable car-like structure. There are clear plastic walls connected to each other and connected to a cable around a pulley system, rotating it slightly as you approach a mountain. Our weights, along with the gondola's weig...