Water Slide

water parks · summer fun · physics · recreation

Sit or slide. Some water slides let you zoom down sitting directly on the smooth surface, while others give you a raft or tube to ride on for extra speed and splash.

Water keeps you speedy. Water flowing down the slide creates a slippery layer that reduces friction, so you slide faster and farther than you would on a dry surface.

Indoor or outdoor. You can find water slides at outdoor pools during summer or inside special water parks and recreation centers that have them year-round.

Different shapes matter. Water slides come in many designs, from straight and simple to twisty spiral slides that spin you around before you hit the water.

Gravity does the work. The slope of a water slide uses gravity to pull you downward, and the higher and steeper the slide, the faster and more thrilling your ride will be.