Your heart is racing, your hands sweating and your head feels as if it is about to burst. But what really happens to our bodies when we expose ourselves to the G- forces and adrenaline rush of scary theme park rides? A project being unveiled at the Science Museum this week hopes to answer that question.

Over the next three weeks, scientists manning a "Fairground Thrill Laboratory" will monitor two members of the public at a time as they experience three rides using a range of equipmentincluding a heart rate monitor, an accelerometer and a head camera.

The rides include a Miami Trip, a regular sight at funfairs, which stops passengers in midair before suddenly swinging to the side with no warning, and the Booster, which throws its passengers more than 160 feet in the air at up to 80mph.

Scientists, technologists and psychologists will record and analyse the data to discover the physical and emotional effects the attractions have on humans. The fairground will be set up in the Dana Centre, the museum's adults-only bar and café for exploring contemporary-sciencemedicine and technology from tomorrow until Wednesday 1 November. Participants will be chosen from audiences, although all visitors will be able to ride the attractions once all the experiments have been conducted.

www.sciencemuseum.org.uk