What makes a water slide fast?

While each type of slide works a little differently, all water slides are fundamentally a product of three forces: gravity, friction, and inertia. Gravity forces passengers down the ride, while water acts as a lubricant to reduce friction, so the ride is fast and smooth.



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Gravity pulls the rider toward the Earth, helping to speed up their trip down the waterslide. Of course, friction also plays a part. Whether a person rides down the slide on their backs, a mat, or an intertube, the contact causes friction. This can slow the rider down.

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New Amusement Rides Standard Aids in Measuring Water Slide G-Force. ASTM International's amusement rides and devices and committee (F24) has approved a new standard that will be used to collect gravitational force data for water slides.

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The fastest speed ever achieved on a water slide is 57 miles per hour.

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