Do you feel weightless on a roller coaster?

This force comes into play thanks to the movement you undergo on the ride– you experience a “positive” G-force when the train is at the bottom of a hill, and a corresponding “negative” force when it crests the top of a hill. When your downward acceleration is close to g, you feel weightless.



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The same can be said for this phenomenon on roller coasters. “You feel very light at the top of loops, but heavier than usual at the bottom” (Boston University).

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The normal force however has a small magnitude at the top of the loop (where the rider often feels weightless) and a large magnitude at the bottom of the loop (where the rider often feels heavy).

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At the bottom of the loop, gravity and the change in direction of the passenger's inertia from a downward vertical direction to one that is horizontal push the passenger into the seat, causing the passenger to once again feel very heavy.

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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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Other health conditions can make going on high-speed rides unsafe, including pregnancy, recent surgery, heart problems, high blood pressure and aneurysms, as well as the influence of drugs or alcohol.

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Different types of brakes are used to stop the train at the end of a ride. These brakes use friction to slow down and stop a roller coaster's momentum by converting the train's kinetic energy into heat energy. For example, roller coasters are kind of like riding your bike down a hill.

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The best place to sit on a roller coaster is the front row because it has both the greatest values of negative Z acceleration and the greatest time spent in free fall.

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Endorphin is a strong chemical, specifically released to make you feel relaxed and confident. Obviously this explains the natural high you may get from riding a coaster.

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