What two basic scientific principles do roller coasters run on?

Roller coasters are designed to run on two basic scientific principles: 1) gravity and 2) the transfer of energy. On Earth, gravity is the force that pulls objects toward the ground. The transfer of energy is what causes objects at rest to move and objects in motion to slow or stop.



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Roller coasters are driven almost entirely by basic inertial, gravitational and centripetal forces, all manipulated in the service of a great ride. Amusement parks keep upping the ante, building faster and more complex roller coasters, but the fundamental principles at work remain the same.

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Roller coasters are designed to run on two basic scientific principles: 1) gravity and 2) the transfer of energy. On Earth, gravity is the force that pulls objects toward the ground. The transfer of energy is what causes objects at rest to move and objects in motion to slow or stop.

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The two most important forms for amusement park rides are kinetic energy and potential energy. In the absence of external forces such as air resistance and friction (two of many), the total amount of an object's energy remains constant.

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In roller coasters, the two forms of energy that are most important are gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy. Gravitational potential energy is the energy that an object has because of its height and is equal to the object's mass multiplied by its height multiplied by the gravitational constant (PE = mgh).

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Rollercoaster trains have no engine or no power source of their own. Instead, they rely on a supply of potential energy that is converted to kinetic energy. Traditionally, a rollercoaster relies on gravitational potential energy – the energy it possesses due to its height.

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A roller coaster demonstrates kinetic energy and potential energy. A marble at the top of the track has potential energy. When the marble rolls down the track, the potential energy is transformed into kinetic energy. Real roller coasters use a motor to pull cars up a hill at the beginning of the ride.

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Traditionally, a rollercoaster relies on gravitational potential energy – the energy it possesses due to its height. It is pulled to the top of a big hill, the highest point of the ride, and released.

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Lift hills usually propel the train to the top of the ride via one of two methods: a chain lift involving a long, continuous chain which trains hook on to and are carried to the top; or a drive tire system in which multiple motorized tires (known as friction wheels) push the train upwards.

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Potential and kinetic energy can be exchanged for one another, so at certain points the cars of a roller coaster may have just potential energy (at the top of the first hill), just kinetic energy (at the lowest point) or some combination of kinetic and potential energy (at all other points).

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