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Physics is either greatest friend or the worst enemy to roller coasters. Now you will find out why. The biggest problem for coaster designers is safety. The best solution to this is to give their coaster the most possible energy for the rest of ride, and will avoid a danger of the car flying off the track at the end. The path of a medium sized drop makes the fastest speed and gives people the feel of "freefall" for a long time.
"Centrifugal Force" is another thing involving Physics that applies to "loop-de-loop" roller coasters. When you are on this loop of a roller coaster you will experience a push in the opposite direction of gravity. This odd item that keeps you in your seat when upside down is the same as that keeps water in a bucket when you swing it around. It is called inertia. The forces created by the ride can be stronger than that of gravity! Awesome, isn't it? A roller coaster is a balance between safety and sensation. Obviously, the ride should be as safe as possible. After all, if people are injured riding the coaster then there would be fewer riders doing the coaster again. Fewer "repeat riders" means a short life for the coaster. On the other hand, passengers ride a coaster for the scary thrills. The key to a successful coaster is to give the rider the sensation of speed. It all comes down to control. To achieve this, the hills, curves, braking systems and loops are not randomly designed. They follow some easy laws of physics.Don't you find that interesting?
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Last updated on 03/21/2002 . Created for Thinkquest USA contest.