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Coasting Through Life

Explore the thrilling history and mechanics of roller coasters, from 1400s ice slides to modern steel loops and beyond. Discover the top wooden and steel coasters, common types, popular rides, physics behind coasting, and safety precautions. Get ready for an exhilarating ride through the world of coasters!

michaelranderson
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Coasting Through Life

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  1. Coasting Through Life Hang on to Your Hat!

  2. Coaster History • 1400s ice slides in Russia • 1700s wheeled sleds • 1800s tracks and continuous circuits • Early 1900s Golden Age of wooden rollercoasters • Late 1900s steel rollercoasters, loops, corkscrews, and more

  3. Coaster Types • Wood rollercoasters • Steel rollercoasters

  4. Wood Coasters • Any rollercoaster with laminated wooden rails to which flat steel rails are attached Pro That classic “clackety-clack” coaster sound from metal wheels on metal Con Lack of variety in track design

  5. Wood Coaster Statistics • Tallest • Rattler 179 feet (Six Flags Fiesta Texas) • Steepest drop • Cyclone 58.6 (Coney Island) • Fastest • American Eagle 66 mph (Six Flags Great America) • Oldest still operating • Rutschebanen 1917 (Tivoli Gardens, Denmark)

  6. Steel Coasters • Any rollercoaster with steel rails Pro Flexible metal lends itself to many designs such as loops and corkscrews Con A relatively silent ride because of coated wheels

  7. Steel Coaster Statistics • Tallest • Fujiyama 259 feet (Fujikyu Highland Park, Japan) • Steepest drop • Oblivion 88 (Alton Towers, England) • Fastest • Fujiyama 81 mph • Most inversions • Dragon Khan 8 (Port Adventura, Spain)

  8. Most Popular Coasters • Alpengeist (Busch Gardens Williamsburg) • Corkscrew (Cedar Point) • Anaconda (King’s Dominion) • Kumba (Busch Gardens Tampa Bay) • Raptor (Cedar Point) Based on votes at an online coaster site.

  9. The Physics of Coasting • Most rollercoasters fueled by gravity • Gravity results in speeds up to 80 mph • Lift hill builds momentum for entire ride • Speed and motion also generate G’s • Standing still is 1 G • G-force of more than 3.5 is scary • On downhills, G-force may drop to 0.2

  10. Coaster Accidents • Most coasters are rigorously inspected • Accidents usually happen because • Riders disable safety restraints and stand • Ride operators fail to check safety bars • Ride operators taking test rides fail to use safety restraints • Maintenance workers or inspectors are struck by cars

  11. Coaster Glossary Corkscrew One or more elongated loops Inversion Any part of a roller coaster circuit that turns you upside down Lift hill The track containing the device that lifts the coaster Loop A nearly closed vertical turn of 360 during which riders are upside down

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