Brooke Peatross: Tech Fair

Ice Coasters and Wheeled CartsIn the 16th century, Russians used mountain slopes as high as 70 feet to create the first "roller coaster." Ice slides framed with wood were used to send individuals down an icy slope. Sleds contained hollowed-out holes stuffed with straw, where riders sat on their ride down. During the summer, Russians also used the mountains for the same activity, except with wheeled carts on wooden ramps. In 1784 in St. Petersburg, the first wheeled coaster was invented, and in 1804, Paris opened its first wheeled coaster as well. Unfortunately, the new coasters were met with problems, as their were numerous malfunctions, including wheels falling off and carts continuing to pick up speed after the track had ended.
Many newer roller coasters have an unpredictable start, immediately launching off quickly, instead of making that gradual climb up a hill before sending us on a terrific series of drops and hills. This new launch style

The type of magnets used in a roller coaster may vary, but the roller coaster depends upon both the negative and positive abilities of magnets. The quick launch of a roller coaster is often due to magnetic propulsion. This relies on magnets repelling rather than attracting one another. Estimates with very strong magnets suggest such propulsion could send a roller coaster up to 100 mph in a matter of seconds

The type of magnets used in a roller coaster may vary, but the roller coaster depends upon both the negative and positive abilities of magnets. The quick launch of a roller coaster is often due to magnetic propulsion. This relies on magnets repelling rather than attracting one another. Estimates with very strong magnets suggest such propulsion could send a roller coaster up to 100 mph in a matter of seconds

A hyper coaster, or supercoaster, is an
As well as long drops the hyper coaster may also feature misty tunnels, and quick loops before dropping again. First hyper coasters cars were seated on the track like most steel roller coasters. Now cars may be atop the track, and offer a standing or sitting feature.

Some roller coasters now have hanging seats, which can actually flip around the track as the car is in motion, causing multiple inversions. They also add more thrill since the feet dangle without support, and seem dangerously close to the track. Roller coaster purists, however, say one cannot define an inversion coaster as a hyper coaster. So traditionally, the hyper coaster cannot loop the track, though it can turn upside down while remaining on one side of the track.

Steel allows looping design elements that wood does not. Wood maintains many sub accelerations on sway between bents that steel does not. There are also differences on cost and maintenance. The original cost of a steel may be more than wood, but the maintenance might be less. Over the long haul, the total costs are similar.

adrenaline-charged, high-speed, steel roller coaster that is characterized by providing lots of airtime through huge drops. Airtime in roller coaster speak is the feeling of freefalling or weightlessness that accompanies a long quick descent. Airtime may also be referred to as negative gravity or negative g time