The Physics and History of Rollercoasters

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The Physics and History of Rollercoasters
What goes up must come down. Gravity it's not
just a good idea, it's the law. It's also what
puts the "coast" in roller coasters.

• By
• Richard Ed

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Russian Ice Slides

• Roller Coasters got their beginning during the
  long cold winters in the 1700s. They were found
  at amusement parks and they were made entirely
  out of ice, which is where they got the name Ice
  Slides.
• It consisted of a steep drop with a few bumps at
  the end. The rider rode in a sled made of wood
  or ice. Sand was placed at the end of the ride to
  slow the riders speed.
• It did take skill to ride these slides, so
  skilled riders gave their services to other
  riders for a fee.

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Russian Ice Slides
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Les Montagnes Russes

• The Ice Slides became so popular that other
  countries started building them. But the warm
  weather melted the ice.
• The French came up with a slide that used
  one-person sleds with wheels underneath, and
  riders could use the slide all year long.
• Many of these rides that were constructed in
  France were given the name Les Montagnes Russes,
  which means Russian Mountains.

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Les Montagnes Russes
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Promenades Aeriennes

• Thirteen years later, Les Montagnes Russes ,
  Belleville (Belleville Mountains) and the
  Promenades Aeriennes (Aerial Walks) in Paris
  improved on the original Russian Mountains, by
  adding locking wheels, continuous tracks, and,
  eventually, cables that hoisted cars to the top
  of the hill.

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Promenades Aeriennes
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Mauch Chunk Railway

• Josiah White built his Gravity Road in 1827 to
  haul coal from the mines at Summit Hill to the
  Lehigh River landing at Mauch Chunk (now the town
  of Jim Thorpe)--a nine-mile, downhill journey.
  Trains of up to 14 cars, loaded with 50,000
  pounds of coal, sped down the mountain under the
  command of a single "runner" who operated a brake
  lever. Mules had the task of dragging the cars
  back up the mountain.
• Quickly the thrilling Gravity Road became a
  public attraction. Coal was hauled in the
  morning, but the afternoon runs were filled with
  passengers paying 50 cents per ride.

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Mauch Chunk Railway
Soon safety cars were added so that the car
couldnt roll back down the hill. They then
installed a ratchet rail, which was later
perfected, gave rise to the clanking sound you
hear on almost every roller coaster today.
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La Marcus Thompson

• Thompson, La Marcus, American inventor and
  businessman, who was known as the "Father of the
  Gravity Ride" for his Switchback Railway at Coney
  Island, in New York City, the first
  gravity-powered roller coaster built in the
  United States

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La Marcus Thompson
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Switchback Railway

• It began in 1884 La Marcus Thompson, opened a
  600-foot switchback railway at Coney Island.
  With a top speed of six miles per hour,
  Thompson's ride was little more than a leisurely,
  gravity-powered tour of the beach. Still, its
  popularity enabled him to recoup his 1,600
  investment in only three weeks.

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Switchback Railway
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Coasters of the New Millennium

• At the dawn of the new millennium, a new coaster
  boom is underway. In 1999, thrill seekers saw the
  opening of nearly 120 new or renovated roller
  coasters around the world, including 61 in the
  United States. The number of coasters on the
  planet now stands at just under 900. One thing
  about the future of roller coasters is
  certain--they will continue to get bigger and
  faster.
• 2 of the biggest coasters of the new millennium
  are Millennium Force in Cedar Point, a 300ft
  tall,and a top speed of 92mph. The other is Son
  of Beast in Paramount Kings Island a 218 ft
  wooden coaster with a 106ft loop.and top speed of
  78mph.

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Coasters of the New Millennium cont.

• Some other coasters of the new millennium are
  Hypersonic XLC in Paramounts King Dominion, the
  1st air powered coaster in the world. Launching
  riders from 0-80 in 1.8 seconds. The other is
  NITRO in Six Flags Great Adventure, this coaster
  only opens April 16 and has a 205ft drop and a
  top speed of over 80mph.

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Millennium Force SOB
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HyperSonic XLC Nitro
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Center of Mass
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Center of Mass
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Weightlessness

• Time in the air Velocity
• Sec MPH
• 0 0
• 1 22
• 2 44
• 3 66
• 4 88
• 5 110

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Effects of Acceleration

• The feet are to the outside of the circle. In
  order to keep blood in the passenger's head, a
  centripetal force needs to be applied to the
  blood to push it upwards toward the head and the
  center of the circle. The heart applies the
  centripetal force on the blood.
• A passenger can experience many g's in a loop.
  Recall that a g is the number of times heavier an
  object becomes.
• A 7 g experience means that the passenger feels 7
  times heavier. Everything about the passenger
  becomes 7 times heavier. Her 3 pound brain now
  weighs 21 pounds.
• Every ounce of blood becomes 7 times heavier. If
  the blood feels too heavy the heart cannot apply
  enough force to push it towards the head. If the
  brain does not get any blood it will not get the
  oxygen the blood carries. The passenger will pass
  out within a second.

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B L A C K O U T
L I M I T S
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Banked Curves