GLOC modelling + roller coasters

[juzz]

Anyone been on this thing?
 

In 1985, Schwarzkopf constructed one of the world's most intense roller coasters, the "Mind Bender" at Galaxyland (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). This coaster features a twisting first drop of 38m (125'), and three high-G loops. In these loops, riders experience G forces of up to 6.4 Gs.

This is the "Moonsault Scramble" at Fujikyu Highlands in Japan
   
It pulls up to 6.2 Gs.

Maybe this one?
 

In 1986, another very intense Schwarzkopf looper was built. Named "Thriller", it featured circular loops, and G forces of up to 6.7. Thriller is the world's largest portable coaster, and the last Schwarzkopf design. It toured Germany until 1998, but is now at Six Flags Astroworld (Houston, Texas), as "Taz's Texas Tornado."

If you have been on a +6G roller coaster, did you experience loss of vision similar to what is simulated in Aces High? Just wondering...

Oh, btw: be glad you never rode this thing:
 
Because...
 

During the early 1900s, many rides featuring vertical loops appeared. These primitive loops were very rough, intense rides: the designers did not have the ability to precisely calculate the physics involved. For example, the Flip Flap - one of the first looping rides - pulled 12 Gs, and snapped some of it passenger's necks. As their novelty wore off and their dangerous nature forced them to close, many of these rides were dismantled, and with the onset of the depression, the last of these looping rides disappeared.

[This message has been edited by juzz (edited 10-25-2000).]

[miko2d]

   

Originally posted by juzz:
These primitive loops were very rough, intense rides: the designers did not have the ability to precisely calculate the physics involved.

 Sounds like a bunch of BS to me - probably by a journalist who forgot his basic physics and history.

 Sir Isaac Newton could have calculated the physics involved in 1700s, as well as any school student in 1900s:
 The known height of a drop converts into the known speed: weight * height = 1/2 mass * velocity_squared
 Known speed and known radius yield known centripetal force (Gs).
 Ther real force will be slightly lower due to loss of speed to friction.

 Illiterate carpenters building such a thing without any design (if that was the case) probably could not have performed such calculations, but that would still be true today.

miko

P.S. Just another example of the worth of an anecdotal evidence...

[This message has been edited by miko2d (edited 10-25-2000).]

[miko2d]

 error

[This message has been edited by miko2d (edited 10-25-2000).]

[jedi]

Sounds like BS to me.  How fast does one of these things go? 40 mph?  I doubt you can sustain a 6-G loop through three loops using a gravity drop for propulsion.

If you could, 6G is going to black out a certain percentage of the population who are untrained for it, with the resultant lawsuits.

I'll bet it pulls a max of 3 G or so, with MAYBE a 6-G deceleration lasting a second or so at the end to stop the thing.  Where's Wells when you need him?

[Rickenbacker]

I think what we have here is advertising (i.e. lies) at work  .


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        Rickenbacker (Ricken)

                -ISAF-
the Independent Swedish Air Force

[Vermillion]

Yep I call BS too.

I have rode rollercoasters all around the country and none of them compared in the slightest to the 4.5G's I pulled when I flew the AT-6 Texan.

Plus there is a difference between sustained G's (aircraft manuevers), and instantaneous G's.

Maybe thats what they are talking about.

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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure

[juzz]

Who said it's sustained G jedi? It's obviously an instantaneous figure.

The "Thriller" has a maximum speed of 60mph. That equates to a cicular loop with about a 35ft radius to generate the 6.7G as you enter(obviously it decelerates as it goes through). These rides do generate the numbers they are claiming.

Except maybe that 1920's deathride.  

[funked]

You can probably do 10 g instantaneous just jumping up and down...

[bloom25]

Couldn't calculate the Physics involved???  LOL, what's this amazingly difficult velocity^2/radius thing for?  

 

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bloom25
THUNDERBIRDS

[jedi]

Hehe what funked said!

Imagine if they advertised, "Some of these roller coasters generate as much G as you'd generate jumping off of your bed!" or "Sustained G-forces equal to a Corvette going around a corner at 50 mph!"  Well, that one might work, but only if it was a real Corvette, and they let you drive it.  



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[Wicked]

Uh, is that why many advanced rollercoaster manufacturers today use sophisticated equipment "onboard" the rollercoasters to get accurate readings?  Forces can be subject to many variables even at different places on the cars themselves.  It is not as easy as a simple physics equation.



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1st Lt. Wicked
487th FS "Lil' Bastards"
352nd FG "Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney"
352ndfightergroup.com