ROLLER COASTERS

1912

marks the year JohnMiller designed the firstUnder friction roller coaster

these colossal, twisted structures provide an

exhilarating and frenetic ride. They wed technology

to basic and seemingly incompatible emotions,

such as panic, courage, fear, joy, vertigo, and

amusement. Built as if to exclusively proveNewton's theories, the science of roller

coastersabounds with all his terminology:

acceleration,mass, gravity, movement, and inertia. But

inall this, what is really thrilling is the freefall, the attraction of the abyss.

SAFETY DETAILS

The designers of these extreme machines take into account all possible safety factors to provide as safe an experience as possible. Riders are made to wear safety belts, and machine parts are inspected on a regular basis to prevent accidents. Joints and beams are X-rayed for flaws. Safety devices applied to the drive chain before cars reach the top prevent the train of cars from moving backward. These devices are also installed on some of the hills, where the train slows down in its climb. In the event of wind gusts and sudden decelerations, these preventive measures keep the train in place and stop it from backtracking

WHEELS TO KEEP THE TROLLEY ON THE TRACK

Three types of wheels are needed: upper wheels to control the

train for most of the route; lower ones for use on the hills—G

forces are sometimes greater than the weight of the train; and

lateral wheels to prevent the train from derailing on curves..

FORCE OFGRAVITY IN ACTION

Most of the motion in a roller-coaster ride is aresponse to the Earth's gravitational pull. No enginesare mounted on the cars. After the train reaches thetop of the first slope—the highest point on the ride—the train rolls downhill and gains speed under theEarth's gravitational pull. The speed is sufficient for itto climb over the next hill. This process occurs over andover again until all the train's energy has been lost tofriction and the train of cars slows to a stop. If noenergy were lost to friction, the train would be able tokeep running as long as no point on the track washigher than the first peak.

1-POTENTIALENERGY

When the wagon reaches the highestpoint of the rollercoaster, it has a great dealof potential energy.

2-MECHANICALENERGY

At a certain point in thetrajectory, both energies(potential and kinetic)cancel each other out

3-KINETIC ENERGY

is energy of motion that is, the energy

released by the trainevery time it descends.

ACCELERATION