Roller coasters can be found around the globe,
providing their riders with thrills and memories to enjoy.
Our love of roller coaster stems from our thirst for adrenaline, the desire to travel
at high speeds in an apparently uncontrollable manor.
Once the ride starts, there’s no going back.
Your heart begins to race, adrenaline fills your body, and you begin to enjoy the fantastic
experience.
On face value, roller coasters can seem like simple machines designed for a specific purpose.
But taking a closer look, there’s much more to these theme park attractions than what
you’d initially think.
Therefore, in this video we’ll take an indepth look into the world of roller coasters, and
learn more about their types, styles and ride experiences.
In principal, roller coasters consist of two main components: the track, and the train.
The track remains static during the ride, while the train navigates the track, speeding
through the twists and turns.
As the train flies through the roller coasters layout, it remains stuck to the track.
Each train uses multiple sets of wheels, which surround the tracks rails, to do this.
These wheels can be found below, above, and to the side of the rail, keeping the train
stuck to the track at all times.
For a roller coaster to be classified as a roller coaster, it requires these two simple
track and train components, and must operate under the effect of gravity.
With many rides, the trains are pulled up to a great height, before being released down
a sudden drop.
At this point, the cars in which riders are seated are under the effect of gravity.
This means that even though the trains themselves aren’t powered, they gain speed from plummeting
towards the ground.
Once the first drop is over, riders often climb to a great height once again, and therefore
lose speed.
This balancing act of energy is what provides the thrills on many of the world’s roller
coasters.
There are, of course, exceptions to this.
Some roller coasters use launches to propel rides to huge speeds, giving the trains enough
energy to navigate the track.
While other roller coasters are powered, through the use motors embedded within the trains,
allowing them to climb hills during the ride.
Once the trains, and riders, have gained significant energy, they are released and undergo a mixture
of twists, turns and inversions.
The track is shaped in specific ways to produce certain sensations on the bodies of riders.
For example, a vertical loop produces force on riders as they navigate the shaped track,
causing them to be pushed into the trains seat.
Other elements, such as the camelback, produce a weightless sensation as the trains climb
over the crest of a large hill.
Different roller coasters utalise a mixture of track shapes to provide unique and tailored
experiences.
By applying this logic, theme parks can design roller coasters for specific target markets.
For example, a roller coaster with sharp turns and sudden drops has been designed for the
thrill seekers, people looking their next big adrenaline rush.
While a ride featuring gradial descents and casual curves has been designed for families
and children, a target audience seeking a more tame attraction.
Often the size and scale of the roller coaster is a telltale sign of its target audience.
Family rides are generally smaller, and slower, than their thrilling counterparts.
Not only can the shape of the track change the ride experience, but so to can the material
used to construct the attraction.
Roller coasters can be built using either wood, steel, or a mixture of the two.
Older roller coasters were often constructed from wood, in which a timber frame was made
to support the ride’s track.
However, newer roller coasters often utilise a steel track, allowing for riders to navigate
a mixture of more complicated elements.
Generally, wooden coasters offer a more chaotic and volatile ride experience, while steel
rides often feel more controlled throughout the journey.
Besides the clear distinction between wooden and steel track, different roller coasters
feature track that has been designed from a unique combination of shapes.
Roller coasters are in fact manufactured by a whole range of companies, each of which
utilise their own production methods.
As a result, the producer of the attraction can also drastically affect the ride experience.
During the construction of a new roller coaster, a Theme Park will purchase an attraction from
a specific amusement ride manufacturer.
Each manufacturer can offer a unique selection of rides, fit for the purposes of the park.
Different producers also design their trains in an original way by altering the cars seating
arrangement.
For example, some rides utilise trains which seat riders below the track, like Nemesis
at Alton Towers; while others seat riders above the track, as seen on Maverick, at Cedar
Point.
These differences can be found between amusement ride companies, making it easier to distinguish
a specific type of roller coaster, as well as its manufacturer.
With every roller coaster, no matter the manufacturer, material, or design; safety is top priority.
Amusement park attractions feature highly advanced computer systems, capable of motoring
the entire ride in real time.
On top of this, roller coasters are inspected and tested daily.
These high standards have made roller coasters, and theme parks in general, one of the safest
and most popular forms of recreational activities.
To learn more about roller coaster safety, click the video on screen now.
Regardless, thank you for watching, and I’ll see you all next time.
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