The Physics of Roller Coasters

What are two common ways rollercoasters get enough speed to start their ride?

• Using a lift hill or a hydraulic launch system.

• Using a giant slingshot or a powerful fan.

• Using a large spring or a gravity drop.

• Using a steam engine or a rocket booster.

How does a hydraulic launch system propel a rollercoaster train forward?

• It uses a large fan to push the train.

• It uses a cable attached to a catch car, pulled by a winch powered by hydraulic fluid and compressed nitrogen gas.

• It uses a series of small explosions to push the train.

• It uses a giant magnet to pull the train along the track.

Why might you feel a "sinking feeling" or weightless when a rollercoaster goes over the top of a hill?

• The air pressure inside the car changes rapidly.

• You are in free fall, meaning gravity is the only force acting on your body.

• The rollercoaster is moving so fast that it creates a vacuum.

• Your body is temporarily floating due to magnetic forces.

How do magnetic brakes on a rollercoaster slow down the train without using friction?

• They create a strong wind that pushes against the train.

• They use magnets to pull the train backward.

• They move metal fins through a magnetic field, creating eddy currents that dissipate kinetic energy as heat.

• They spray water onto the tracks to increase resistance.