For several Monmouth College students last semester, The Boss pulled off a different type of double, serving not only as a thrill ride but as a "data collection point" for physics research.

Led by assistant professor Michael Sostarecz, students took two trips to Six Flags, accompanied by a $4,000 advanced GPS (Global Positioning System) handheld device. The students, who all have strong backgrounds in physics, had strong stomachs, as well, climbing aboard The Boss repeatedly with the GPS device to collect mapping data.

The MC contingent’s first trip to Six Flags was in conjunction with the park’s annual Math, Science and Physics Day, which is sponsored by SLAPT (St. Louis Area Physics Teachers). Six Flags is closed to the general public, allowing students and teachers to conduct experiments with the rides.

"Most of the students who attend are in high school, and their experiments are more qualitative," explained Sostarecz. "Their teachers might ask them to note when they ‘feel’ certain things, such as acceleration or G-force."

Sostarecz’s students focused their research on data collected from the GPS device, which "lets you know where you are on the face of the Earth at any given time," he said.

To collect enough data, the device had to be taken on ride after ride after ride, and Sostarecz said his students were up for the task. That was especially true on the second date, which was set up for the group by professional engineer Jim Harig, Six Flags’ director of maintenance.

"The second day we went, three students and I rode The Boss 20 consecutive times, recording data," he said. "Some of the students had stretches of going on eight consecutive times or riding 12 times in a 13-ride stretch, but my max was four."

(Perhaps it was after his fourth consecutive ride that a Six Flags worker saw Sostarecz with the GPS device and mistook it for a heart monitor.)

"The coolest thing on the second trip was how some kids were mad because they saw that we were able to keep riding," said Brad Horn of Woodhull, who, along with Elizabeth McIntyre of Pekin, made both trips to St. Louis. "But then the next time around, some of them would ask what we were doing, and after we explained, their attitude and facial expressions changed and they became supportive. One guy even asked if he could take it around on a try, but for a such an expensive piece of equipment, even we were scared to carry it!"

"As far as The Boss goes, it was fun," said McIntyre. "Every time we got into one of the cars with the GPS device, we would hold onto that darn thing tighter than we would our seats. We got good results, but after about the 15th time, it starts to hurt a little."

"By the time we broke for lunch, I’d had enough of that ride," agreed Horn.

Others who participated on one of the trips were Tom Danielson of Galesburg, Nick Jacobs of Schaumburg, Mark Shoemaker of Kewanee, Jamie Walker of Brimfield and Scott Wolfmeyer of Peoria. All seven are members of the college’s Society of Physics Students.

"We recorded our position on Earth as a function of time, and the goal is to bring the data back into the classroom for future math and physics students," said Sostarecz, who also plans to write a paper on the experience. "The students were really excited about the project."

Sostarecz explained that the data lends itself to the simple "XY position" of the roller coaster, but "through calculus we can find the velocity as a function of time and determine how energy is being transferred throughout the ride."

The Boss, which features nearly a mile of track and hits a top speed of 66 miles per hour, is ranked among the nation’s top five wooden rollercoasters. Sostarecz said that its wood foundation was key, allowing for less signal interference and better data.