Abstract
Changing acceleration and forces are part of the excitement of a roller coaster ride. According to Newton’s second law, , every part of our body must be exposed to a force to accelerate. Since our bodies are not symmetric, the direction of the force matters, and must be accounted for by ride designers. An additional complication is that not all parts of the body accelerate in the same way when the acceleration is changing, i.e. when there is jerk. Softer parts of the body provide varying levels of damping, and different parts of the body have different frequency responses and different resonance frequencies that should be avoided or reduced by the roller coaster designer. This paper discusses the effect of acceleration, jerk, snap and vibration on the experience and safety of roller coaster rides, using authentic data from a dive coaster as an example.
Highlights
This paper discusses the effect of acceleration, jerk, snap and vibration on the experience and safety of roller coaster rides, using authentic data from a dive coaster as an example
Bouncing on a trampoline only the force of gravity acts while you are in the air and you experience 0 g, but as the trampoline bed enables the acceleration for the bounce, you may reach 7 g [2, 3]
Some roller coaster designers use this noise and vibration to good effect as it increases the arousal level of the queuing patrons, whereas in other situations the tracks are filled with sand to reduce the noise level
Summary
The G force is independent of mass and is often expressed in terms of the acceleration of gravity, g ≈ 9.8 m s−2. It relates the force from the ride as it is in motion to the force when it is at rest. Less traditional roller coasters are instead given initial kinetic energy through a launch, where the energy may be supplied by some other means such as electromagnetic propulsion, hydraulic launch, compressed air or a mechanical spring which accelerate the train from 0 m s−1 to a maximum speed in a few seconds
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
