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Science of roller coasters essay
The theory of roller coasters
Science of roller coasters essay
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The anticipation renders you to become eager. After waiting in line, the rollercoaster cannot seem to get to the peak quick enough. The train clicks and clack's as it slowly ascends to the summit. The sun makes your hands sweaty from tightly holding on to the single lap bar that keeps you in your seat... and on that thought the adrenaline pumps through your blood. Suddenly your body flings forward as you plummet down the first drop, and then you're being forced down on the cart’s seat as you arch the bottom of the transition to going up the second hill. Wind whips in your face and, the pressure of your lap bar surprises you when you realize your body has left the seat, quickly being pulled back down into place as the earth approaches you. The hills get smaller but the experience gets more vivid. Some hills give the feeling that you have left your body behind and you’re flying forward, but then your body catches up just in time for the banked turns. The first turn, wasn’t so bad but the smaller turn causes you to black out completely. As your vision returns to you; the station is straight ahead and you sigh in relief as you have survived Nitro. What factor allows a rollercoaster to give a person that experience? Physics allows roller coasters to give the human an adrenaline rush. With physics, engineers are able to mathematically calculate each experience a rollercoaster has without even having the rollercoaster built yet. The equations of the rollercoasters allow the engineer to know the forces released on the body, the speed and acceleration of the train, the energy lost due to friction and the resistance. Before the understanding of the theories derived from physics, roller coasters were limited to up and back designs... ... middle of paper ... ..., James F., Vita R. West, and Paul Webb. Bioastronautics Data Book. Washington: Scientific and Technical Information Office, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; [for Sale by the Supt. of Documents, U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1973. "Scale Wooden Roller Coaster." Uncrate. MMXIII, n.d. Web. 08 Jan. 2014 "Storm Runner Reviews." Theme Park Insider. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2014. The Creative Pad, Katt. "GIVEAWAY! Fisher Price Loops N Swoops Amusement Park {GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED}." One Perfect Day. One Perfect Day, n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2014. "The Engineering Behind Coasters Part 2: Lift Systems." Amusement Park and Roller Coaster News, Information, Photographs, & More. COASTER-net.com, n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2014. "The Physics of a Coaster." Coasterforce. Ian Bell, n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2014. "Vertical Loop." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 01 Mar. 2014. Web. 03 Jan. 2014.
Every year an estimated 290 million people all over the world flock to amusement and theme parks to experience the thrills and excitement of the modern day roller coaster. (Boldurian 16). Now thousands of people a day can safely experience the G-forces that an astronaut or fighter pilot would experience in flight. "The Revolution" a roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia California gives riders an amazing 4.9 Gs; that is 1.5 more than an astronaut at launch. (Boldurian 16). These G-forces create thrills and fear and excitement in all who ride them. But the truth is that there is no reason to fear. Roller Coasters are exceptionally safe. The mortality rate for roller coasters is one in 90 million, and most of the fatality occurred due to failure to follow safety guidelines. (Boldurian 17). But roller coasters have not always been this safe. One of the first coaster attractions was actually just a mine rail designed to bring coal to the base of the mountain (Lemelson-MIT Program). The attraction was a thirty minute ride, with speeds of more than one-hundred miles per hour. As time went on entrepreneurs in the late 1800's began creating “quick buck cheap thrill attractions.” These early coasters lacked safety for the sake of thrills. This changed when John A. Miller engineer and roller coaster designer began making coasters. John Miller held over 100 patents many of which were for roller coaster safety and functionality that are still used today (Lemelson-MIT Program). John Miller's inventions and improvements to the roller coaster make him the father of the modern roller coaster that we know today.
Ever wondered how roller coasters work? It’s not with an engine! Roller coasters rely on a motorized chain and a series of phenomena to keep them going. Phenomena are situations or facts that have been observed and proven to exist. A few types of phenomena that help rollercoasters are gravity, kinetic and potential energy, and inertia. Gravity pulls roller coasters along the track as they’re going downhill. Potential and kinetic energy help rollercoasters to ascend hills and gain enough momentum to descend them and finish the track. Inertia keeps passengers pressed towards the outside of a loop-the-loop and in their seat. Gravity, potential and kinetic energy, and inertia are three types of phenomena that can be observed by watching roller
middle of paper ... ...2014. The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'. The "NASA History" Congressional Digest 90.7 (2011): 196-224. Academic Search Premier -. Web.
Roller coasters are driven almost entirely by inertial, gravitational and centripetal forces. Amusement parks keep building faster and more complex roller coasters, but the fundamental principles at work remain the same.
On this ride riders experience the Sun, Mars, the Asteriod Belt, Sattilites, and the Moon. During this ride the space craft shaped car will speed down a dark purple track. This ride also offers a one of a kind single seat at the sheer point of the space shuttle shaped car giving the rider a once in a lifetime experience. The ride will deliver a very thrilling ride with the ride twisting around itself. This will produce a very intense ride. Apollo 11 being the first space shuttle to accomplish the first moon landing will make this ride have excellent theming and will make you feel like its real. The ride will cause riders to feel all the insane moments these astronauts had when they were the first men on the moon. The ride will put rides through a series 9 elements, including 3 inversions. Rides will spiral up the first hill and it will be the first of its type. Also with the outer seats will provide a similar ride to coasters similar to skyrush nevertheless this roller coaster will be the first roller coaster with winged seats to go upside down. This all causes this coaster one of the ultimately unique roller
- Some relevant science principles are kinetic energy, potential energy, thermal energy, conservation of energy, work, power, and forces. Kinetic energy is the force of movement. This energy is applied and increased when the roller coaster is traveling downwards. Potential energy is the force of position. This energy is applied when at the top of the first hill and is increased when traveling upwards. Thermal energy is the energy of heat. This energy is applied while the roller coaster is in motion. Conservation of energy is the fact that energy cannot be created or destroyed and that the amount of energy remains constant. Work is the transfer of energy, such
Roller coasters come in all sizes and configurations. Roller coasters are designed to be intense machines that get the riders’ adrenaline pumping. Ever since my first roller coaster ride, I knew I was hooked. I cannot get enough of the thrilling sensation caused by these works of engineering. When people board these rides, they put their faith in the engineers who designed the rides and the people who maintain and operate the rides. In this paper, I will bring to your attention a specific instance when the operation of one of these coasters came into question and led to a very tragic incident. From this, I will look into the events leading up to the incident and evaluate the decisions made by the people involved.
A. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Space Technology. New York: Salamander, 1989. Launius, Roger D. Frontiers of Space Exploration. Westport, CN: Greenwood, 1998.
The first ride I will be talking about is Vertical Velocity, the “Midwest’s most extreme thrill ride,” that was introduced in 2001. Vertical Velocity is the epitome of all things physics, Vertical Velocity is a “clean, strong, U-shaped steel track spikes up in two impossibly high directions, one in an ultra-twisted inline curve, and the other straight up.” The ride goes up 185 feet on both towers, going at a speed of 70 meters per second in just four seconds. The people riding Vertical Velocity, get thrown into a “spiraling impulse coaster,”with the help of an “electromagnetic propulsion system.” An electromagnetic propulsion system
We pulled into the roller coaster park in our Ford Excursion truck. It was me and my dearest friends. Our stomachs were growling like mountain lions. We haven’t had a chance to get something to eat during the trip. I opened the container of ham and cheese sandwiches and have had three sandwiches faster than a track star. My un-calm hands couldn’t even open a bottle of wild cherry soda. Thinking about what I’m going to do when we enter the park.
the length of the slope can be used to calculate the speed of the car
I remember it like it was yesterday, my family took our first trip to Six Flags Great America. I was around seven years old and terrified by everything around me. The roller coasters were like brobdingnagian snakes that twisted throughout the entire park. My first rollercoaster changed my life forever. I was barely the required 48”, and my dad sat me down on American Eagle. Before the ride I was sobbing, yelling, and scared out of my mind. The lift hill had to be the longest moments of my life. We climbed up the 127’ slower than I thought possible, and then it happened. The car crested over the first hill, and the expression on my face couldn't have changed more. I went from a terrified and mortified child, to a boy who was on top of the world. The feeling of falling down the hill, then climbing up another and entering a helix and the some more
“Even though roller coasters propel you through the air, shoot you through tunnels, and zip you down and around many hills and loops, they are quite safe and can prove to be a great way to get scared, feel that sinking feeling in your stomach, and still come out of it wanting to do it all over again (1).” Thanks to the manipulation of gravitational and centripetal forces humans have created one of the most exhilarating attractions. Even though new roller coasters are created continuously in the hope to create breathtaking and terrifying thrills, the fundamental principles of physics remain the same. A roller coaster consists of connected cars that move on tracks due to gravity and momentum. Believe it or not, an engine is not required for most of the ride. The only power source needed is used to get to the top first hill in order to obtain a powerful launch. Physics plays a huge part in the function of roller coasters. Gravity, potential and kinetic energy, centripetal forces, conservation of energy, friction, and acceleration are some of the concepts included.
Your friends have to practically convince you to change your mind in matter 30 seconds. At this point you can hear your own heart beating in your ears. Everyone seems to vanish and the only thing that you can see is the seat of the roller coaster that has sweat on it due to the previous rider whose nerves got the best of him. There is no turning back now and you have no choice but to get on the ride. Sitting on the ride, waiting for the ride to begin is the most heart wrenching part. You cannot prepare yourself to be flown 50 miles per hour. When you take off, it feels as though your breath is being pulled from your body. For a slip second, you feel like you can’t catch your breath, and you can see the people in front of you desperately trying to gasp for
The first ride on one of these fantastic beasts gave me an instant rush of adrenaline. As the death-defying ride started, a lump in my throat pulsed like a dislodged heart ready to walk the plank. As the ride gained speed, the resistance to gravity built up against my body until I was unable to move. An almost imperceptible pause as the wheel reached the top of its climb allowed my body to relax in a brief state of normalcy. Then there was an assault of stomach-turning weightlessness as the machine continued its rotation and I descended back toward the earth. A cymbal-like crash vibrated through the air as the wheel reached bottom, and much to my surprise I began to rise again.