Future of Roller coasters...

[coasterzak]

I am writing a research paper for school and I have to research the future of roller coasters by studying past trends and prototypes. I have a very good start and just wondered if you guys know any sites or anything that would possibly mention anything about this or help me in any way. I am predicting that there will be a 900 ft. coaster by the year 2050 and that it will use ceramic wheels and travel at speeds around 180mph with a lapbar and be completely safe, with low G's using very high powered LIMs to keep this speed up. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[coastrcorey]

Yeah, tommorow I'm giving a speech on the history, technology, and physics of roller coasters... There aren't a lot of sites that I could find however... I actually got a Discovery Channel Roller Coaster Physics video from our school library, but I don't think that would help you much.

[coasterzak]

That's alright. I think I have it under control. With the help of numerous sites many people gave me input and now I'm on to focusing on maglev. It's pretty crazy how advanced everything will be from even now.

[TwistedSTEEL666]

I think Cedar Point or Magic Mountain should launch a 500-550ft. coaster within the next few years, maybe 150-180m.p.h. ?I don't know, maybe it can be called: Sky Ripper.................

[Coasterman3]

yeah or maybe cedar point will get a bigger 4d than xLater

[coastrcorey]

I doubt it, unless most of the bugs are worked out of it...

[TwistedSTEEL666]

U never know what the future holds for us in the coaster world.

[coasterzak]

After a long time of not posting... and working grueling hours on the paper, I finally have finished it. Here it is, warning, it is very long!Roller Coaster Rough DraftThe comfortable lap bar ratchets down firmly and the sleek aluminum coaster train noses to the front of the station. On the word "dispatch" it explodes out of the station and up the side of a skyscraper, only to return down the other side, plummeting to the earth at near supersonic speeds. The train erupts into cheering and smiling once the riders can again breathe. By the year 2050 the technology will be available for a 1500 foot roller coaster that surpasses speeds of 180 mph using advancements that don't endanger the passenger, due to the tolerance of the human body and many technological advancements.There is no question whether or not a coaster will be able to achieve a height of 1500 feet, the question is how soon. Just looking at past trends it is evident that in increments of 100 feet, height limits are broken at increasing rates. The first coaster to break 100 feet was Serpent Fire in Mexico in the year 1964 (Rathe). The barrier of 205 feet was not broken until 35 years later, 1989, when Cedar Point debuted Magnum XL-200 at 205 feet tall (Rathe). Cedar Point eclipsed this coaster eleven years later with the addition of Millennium Force in 2000 at 310 feet (Rathe). Just three years later in 2003, Cedar Point once again outdid themselves, when they unveiled Top Thrill Dragster at a staggering 420 feet (Carlton). What at one time took 35 years to achieve, was accomplished in under three years. Following an equation based on these trends, by 2050 an 1868 foot coaster shall be built. It is difficult to anticipate a coaster at 1800 feet because the reactions have yet to be gauged from one that is merely one fourth the size. The height 1500 feet was predicted as that is the height of the world's tallest building, the Petronas towers, which could hypothetically support a coaster, just as a coaster operates today in Las Vegas on the top of a sky scraper (Marden). The height of a roller coaster has nothing to do with safety, but rather the G-forces, or gravitational forces acting on riders and altered by roller coasters (Pushing the Limits). As the technology for height increases, so does the technology for safety. The only limit is what the general public is willing to ride, and the cost of these massive coasters (Pushing the Limits). Larger hills are a must, along with wider banked turns and extended straight aways. With this in mind, the bottom of hills and valleys must be in proportion to the speed at which the coaster is traveling and the height at which it has descended. According to Rob Decker, Corporate Vice President of Planning and Designing for Cedar Fair, LP "The possibilities could be endless" (Top Thrill Dragster...).Not only will coasters reach unprecedented heights, but they will also reach phenomenal speeds due to new magnetic acceleration technology aiding them to surpass speeds of 180 mph. The speed at which a coaster accelerates has been studied numerous times and found to have no relation to brain damage (O'Brien). In fact, no injuries reported on coasters are related to speeds (O'Brien). A study at Six Flags Inc. says fast accelerations are safe to the riders (O'Brien). "What the human body can handle revolves around G-forces, not height and speed. A coaster that stands 100 feet tall and reaches speeds of 50 mph may have higher forces than a 200 foot, 75 mph coaster and therefore have more dramatic effects on the human body" (Pushing the Limits). In the past, the coasters speed was achieved from the first drop after the lift hill, or a large hill with a chain. Brakes couldn't handle a ride that was too fast early in the 20th century and coasters constructed out of wood would tear themselves apart with high speeds (Sandy). With steel coasters entering the market, higher speeds were achieved through Schwarzkopf and Arrow Dynamics Inc. in the 1970s (Sandy). Not until 1996 was locomotion and acceleration changed and this was brought about by magnets on the Outer Limits: Flight of Fear by Premier Rides. New LIMs (Linear Induction Magnets) were added to accelerate the coaster at high speeds. A current was applied to the track which held metal boxes that fins on the coaster train slid through. Electricity was used to magnetize the metal and could be reversed to stop the coaster, or applied at a higher current to speed up the coaster (Sandy). An acceleration of 0-53 mph in 4 seconds was possible in 1996 (Sandy). The next landmark discovery was made when new LSMs (Linear Synchronus Magnets) were used on Superman The Ride to create an attraction and repulsion effect to move the coaster very fast (Sandy). This was first applied by the Intamin company for a 100 mph acceleration. Bolliger and Mabillard designed their wheel launch to reach the top of the lift hill for inversions on the Incredible Hulk at Islands of Adventure (Sandy). Wheels on the track interacted with the coaster taking it up the lift hill (Sandy). A more efficient launch was discovered that would always launch at the same speed and consistency, air. In 1999 Thrust Air 2000 made a coaster accelerate from 0-80 mph in just 1.8 seconds (Sandy). This made LIMs obsolete for the time being. During the present time, there is a technology that appears to be very promising, maglev, or magnetic levitation (Bonsor). Maglev allows a train to float over the track using magnets, riding on a pocket of air without any wheels causing friction (Bonsor). Because maglev is so new on the market, it is yet to become sophisticated enough for coasters. It requires many components that are impossible at the present time on roller coasters, such as a level surface so the train does not hit the track. When used on trains in Germany and Japan that travel on an almost perfectly level track, trains can reach speeds faster than 300 mph (Bonsor). Maglev has indeed entered the amusement park world, but this is only through the use on monorails and other fast transportation systems (Bonsor). At the current time it is extremely expensive and is a large investment for an amusement park due to the fact that it is the newest technology in transportation (Bonsor). After a great deal of tweaking its future will allow for use on coasters.Some feel that reaching such great speeds requires better restraints, and looking to the future it is apparent that comfort, security, and efficiency will be the main concerns of coaster companies. Current restraints, OTSR's (over the shoulder restraints) cause much headbanging on standard looping coasters coasters, offering a very rough ride (Sandy). One of the first advancements was when Morgan Manufacturing introduced lap bars on the Steel Phantom through the loops in the 1990's (Sandy). The ride is now more open and a better view is available for the rider. In 2001 lap bars were installed into launched coasters for the first time such as Flight of Fear (Sandy). The thought of lap bars on launched coasters was never even a thought until the 1990s (Sandy). Presently, Top Thrill Dragster installed lap bars like Millennium Force in 2003 (Sandy). Top Thrill Dragster reaches speeds of 120 mph and travels straight up and down. The angle of descent of a ride doesn't matter as long as the rider is snug and properly secured with a seatbelt and lap bar. B&M revamped the lap bar and designed the "comfortable" lap bars to keep riders up off the floor and safely in the seat (Sandy). These bars cover the entire lap while allowing for tremendous air time, or negative G-Forces. Horsecollars won't be necessary on tall, fast coasters any longer (Sandy). Riders sit down in seat and are recessed below the train on Top Thrill Dragster, enjoying the ride with a seatbelt and a lap bar. Rides four times this height will only be safer with new hydraulic locking lap bars that only open in the station, or to a safety escape fork.A coaster would be completely worthless if it was not safe to the rider, as it would sit idle in a parking lot as only a piece of artwork to observe. This holds to be true now, as it would in 2050 because commisions will not allow dangerous coasters. A proven fact is that fatalities are rare on roller coasters (Elvin). In history of Six Flags, only 9 cases of brain injuries were reported, none of which were directly related to the ride (Elvin). The number of injuries on amusement rides is less than that of children's wagons (Elvin). New commissions are being petitioned to nationally regulate rides. The neck, head and back are the most vulnerable when riding coasters, and much is being investigated to have cutting edge technology to keep these safe (Elvin). Study after study says that coasters will not cause brain damage (Elvin). Amusement parks were proven to be safer than other recreational and leisure activities (Elvin). Currently, the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) thoroughly inspects all amusement rides checking safety (Elvin). The CPSC monitors carnival rides but not fixed amusement park rides. Safety on coasters revolves mainly around g-forces. G-forces are pushes on riders that affect them horizontally, vertically, positively and negatively. Roller coasters very rarely push 4-5 g-forces and when this is done, it is only momentarily. Different people can handle different amounts and duration levels. During a sneeze G-forces are experienced which are far more than any coaster in the world. Before a coaster is even manufactured, it is carefully mapped out taking the g-forces into consideration and designing around them to assure rider safety and comfort. Computers and mapping before construction will only allow them to be safer and smoother as time progresses. Since the duration of G-forces is such an unsafe factor, high G's are not sustained on coasters, but rather applied very shortly to nudge the rider and add to the effect of the ride. Coming from an expert when dealing with gravitational forces, Shuttle Captain Gibson said "Amusement rides don't cause types of injuries caused by high G-Forces" (Emmons). G-Forces haven't increased over the years but have rather lessened from the coasters in the early 1800's that caused riders to pass out. If the g-forces don't increase then the coasters will remain safe as long as the other components stay in check. Ed Markey of the House of Representatives tries to prove that coasters are unsafe, and after many years he is still unsuccessful. Agencies will still regulate 50 years from now, and currently they have 30 years experience assuring riders that their favorite rides are safe. smoother as time progresses. There are computer games for children these days more elaborate than what coasters were planned with 50 years ago so it can only be expected that they will remain safe in the future.One technological advancement alone does not reshape a roller coaster. Rather, a plethora of changes can reshape the future. With the increase of heights getting taller to an unlimited ceiling it is only expected that by 2050 coaster technology will be available for these staggering heights. Also, along with the height, the speed will also increase whether it be by maglev technology or even just gravity reaching terminal velocity at around 180 mph. These revolutionary changes could only be possible if the horsecollar was installed on the coaster, but engineers will once again defy physics and install the minimum lap bars, all while staying completely safe and obeying the g-forces the human body can withstand. Because of the tolerance of the human body, and many technological discoveries, by the year 2050 the technology will be available for a 1500 foot roller coaster that surpasses speeds of 180 mph using advancements that don't endanger the passenger. Just as Monty Jasper, CP's VP of maintenance says, "We can definitely get bigger and faster" (Everett).

[coastrcorey]

Wow! Bravo, bravo... Nice report!

[SFGAmfreak4life]

Thats a job well done. Great report. I was just wondering what is with all of the (Rathe), (Carlton), (Marden), (O'Brien), (Sandy), (Bonsor), (Elvin), (Emmons), and (Everett) things.

[T_Biggs]

He is listing sources. It took me a few to figure out, but for some reason O'Brien made me realize what it was. Don't know why, but that name made it click with me.

[SFGAmfreak4life]

Oh okay. Thanks.

[coasterzak]

Yep, that would be parenthetical documentation to my works cited. That wasn't my final, it was a bit rough, so there were a few more revisions made. I'll let you know the grade I got, because that paper took so friggin long to write!

[SFGAmfreak4life]

coasterzak I hope you get a good grade on it because its really good.

[coasterzak]

Thanks I appreciate that. But seeing that my teacher is a **** and that he said that "I can tell you I will give no more than 5 A's, 10 B's and 15 C's (thus meaning 1/4 of the class will get D's and F's)" That makes me so mad. He's a total idiot and you don't set a quota for how many grades you give out, and you don't say that after students turn a paper in that they poured their heart and soul into. I spent so much time researching and revising that paper its incredible. I guess I should have known what I was taking though when I signed up for Honors English!

[coastrcorey]

That sucks... Sounds like a crummy teacher.

[coasterzak]

He really is.. the assignment sucked too, not very specific at all. Predict the future of something using facts.

[SFGAmfreak4life]

coasterzak did you get your grade yet.

[coasterzak]

Nope, he hasn't graded any yet, so it'll be like another 2 weeks. It'll be the last grade we get this year from him. I'm so mad, he sucks at grading fast.

[SFGAmfreak4life]

2 weeks. That is too long. I would be going nuts if I had to wait that long for a grade on a big project.

[coasterzak]

Last semester it took a month and a half to get our exams back. We were all dying to know how we did. Once again, he is lazy and sucks as a teacher.

[coastrcorey]

Hmmm... Seems we're getting a bit off topic.

[coasterzak]

Okay, I turned the paper in and found a few things that were wrong, so to answer the question I have a feeling that I won't get the best grade. I used the Cedar Point website, coaster-world.com and howstuffworks.com quite a bit for the paper. I had very solid research but knew too much background about my topic so I think I actually miscited a few things and that will cost me quite a bit.

[SFGAmfreak4life]

How are we getting off topic.

[coastrcorey]

Talking about exams, and teachers, and school... I admit, I was a part of it a little...