Do heavier roller coasters go faster?

Mass does not make a roller coaster go faster but it does make it harder to slow down. This is why amusement parks test roller coasters with dummies filled with water. The water dummies increase the mass of the train making it harder for the resistance forces to slow it down so it's less likely to get stuck.



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According to Kevin Hickerson, a physicist at the California Institute of Technology, “All the energy a roller coaster gets comes from the initial point it's cranked up to, and from there it just gains more and more kinetic energy.” The height of this first drop also determines the speed of the coaster cars.

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Riders may experience weightlessness at the tops of hills (negative g-forces) and feel heavy at the bottoms of hills (positive g-forces). This feeling is caused by the change in direction of the roller coaster. At the top of a roller coaster, the car goes from moving upward to flat to moving downward.

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A few do, with limits around 250 or 300 lbs. But the cat majority use their restraint systems to prohibit larger would-be-riders from riding. If you have ever ridden a B&M roller coaster with over-the-shoulder harnesses (think Batman: the ride), then you've seen the belts that attach the seats to the harnesses.

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The best seat on a coaster, then, is a matter of personal taste. If you love the feeling of weightlessness, head for the back. If you want the best view of the action, head for the front. The cars in the middle provide the weakest ride, but it's a good bet you'll still have a good time.

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In a typical coaster design, the riders in the front car get an unobstructed view of all these obstacles whipping past them. In a coaster that has seats facing backward, the rear car offers the best of both worlds -- you get a great view and the most intense ride.

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The last car is pulled faster over the curve, and so experiences greater acceleration tangential to the track, even though its linear acceleration along the direction of the track is the same as the first car.

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It is a matter of size, not weight. If a person is too large to fit into the restraints, then they cannot ride. It depends on how a person is built. For example, a guy with a large chest may not be able to ride, but someone else that weighs more than him might.

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Most rides don't have a posted wait limit. A few do, with limits around 250 or 300 lbs. But the cat majority use their restraint systems to prohibit larger would-be-riders from riding.

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Most coasters don't have a posted weight limit but if they do, that would be listed on the sign where the height restrictions are when you get in line. It's more common to see weight limits on water rides like water slides, and some kiddie rides where parents ride with kids. I hope this helps!

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The truth is that most visits to the amusement park are full of thrills, fun and are statistically quite safe. However, some amusement park rides, and especially roller coasters, are a significant cause of neck and spine injuries. While these injuries don't make the nightly news, they can slow you down.

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Depends on the size of the person. The safety restraints are built to cater to a wide range of sizes. People that don't fit properly in the seats or can't properly apply the safety restraints aren't safe on a thrill ride.

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People with high blood pressure and/or heart conditions are warned not to ride roller coasters because of the way they tax the cardiovascular system.

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“As far as an age limit, though, if you are physically healthy and up for the thrill, there is likely no greater risk for someone who is 60 than there is for someone who is 20.” The largest concern for those who indulge in roller coasters is the after effects.

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While you are on a roller coaster you will be flexing against the g-forces from the turns, and your heart rate will probably be increased, so you will burn more calories than if you were just sitting around, but I would guess that it would be a negligible amount, not enough to notice significant weight loss.

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The Slowest Rollercoaster in the World - Tiger and Turtle Walking Coaster Duisburg.

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Superman: Escape from Krypton has an incredible 415-foot tall tower. It holds the distinction of being the first coaster to reach 100 mph.

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