Research Collaboration with Other Disciplines: the History of Invention of Roller Coaster

A roller coaster is an elevated railway with steep descends, inclines and sudden changes in direction as well as high speed to give passengers a momentary thrill ride. Traditionally, people ride on roller coasters in continuous loops and in open carts. However, through new discoveries in various disciplines beyond just physics and the introduction of new theories, limitations in the capability of roller coasters are being challenged and the engineering of roller coasters has evolved. This investigation will explore how roller coasters are evidence of science as a human endeavour, especially influence and development and how this relationship between society and science has resulted in our current, but ever-evolving modern rollercoasters.

The predecessors of the modern roller coasters were the ice slides in 15th century, Russia, 'a very simple form of gravity-powered thrills'. The primary purpose of these was for entertainment, especially for those seeking a thrill, and became favourable to Russian royalty who claimed it as their own and shared it with those of different countries. Through this exposure, based on the sheer popularity of the ice slides, a French man further developed this simple design in Paris in 1804 by using wooden sledges instead of ice to suit France's warmer temperatures. This innovation was developed further by adding wheels to the sledge and then eventually led to the first modern roller coaster: Promenades Aériennes. This is an excellent example of how communication and collaboration over various regions can develop and improve the original idea of gravity-powered thrill rides. However, due to the simple design of the roller coaster, limited thrill and safety concerns, its popularity declined and economically affected the theme parks who budgeted a large amount for the production of this star ride.

In this sense, roller coasters show science as a human endeavour through development. The design of the roller coasters needed to be improved to increase its thrill and hence the popularity. Ethical considerations like safety also needed to be taken into account. These innovative ideas are implemented more in recent roller coasters. The development of roller coasters required research from a variety of disciplines including physics, mathematics, engineering and even psychology. Mathematicians used calculus and equations to calculate the shape of many roller coasters featuring loops, smooth tracks and corkscrews. Engineers were mostly concerned with the design and construction of the roller coaster and developing control systems for public safety. Both these disciplines implied research about basic physics theories about the forces of gravity, inertia and centripetal acceleration as well as the effects of these forces on the human body in their designs.

Physicists used the basic principles of gravity, inertia, potential energy and kinetic energy to exemplify the momentary thrill through the design of modern roller coasters. The steep incline accumulates a bank of potential energy. This is because gravity can pull it down at a greater distance as it gets higher into the air. This potential energy is then transferred into kinetic energy in the first downward slope of a roller coaster. After the potential energy is transferred to potential energy, the effects of gravity take place. The effects of gravity include a constant downwards force onto the carts. This is where the purpose of the tracks comes in as they direct this force and control the wave the carts of the coaster move. For example, when the tracks go upwards, the cart slows down in speed because gravity is applying a downward force on the back of the cart. Similarly, when going down a slope, the force of gravity allows the cart to accelerate by pulling it towards the ground.

According to Newton’s First Law of Motion, that an object in motion tends to stay in motion, even when moving up the track, the coaster car will oppose the force of gravity and maintain a forward velocity. Over the course of the track, the coaster is constantly converting back and forth from potential to kinetic energy. The hills on a roller coaster decrease in height throughout the course. The reason for this is that energy built up during the original lift is lost due to friction of the coaster carts with the train and with air. When the bank of energy accumulated during the first incline is lost, the coaster comes to a halt or is sent up another large incline for another ride. The fluctuations we see in energy and speed are what make roller coasters thrilling. Some of the reasons we also experience this thrill are due to forces acting upon our bodies. When travelling on a coaster at a constant speed, you only feel the normal, downwards force of gravity. However, due to the random accelerations caused by hills and sudden changes in directions, we feel the force of acceleration causing us to be pushed back into our seats when going up or pressed against the safety bar when going down. Whilst these were traditionally implemented in wooden designs, steel soon became a feasible option. The first steel roller coaster introduced by Disney Land in 1959 further exhilarated thrill through the introduction of steel coasters. The use of a steel material allowed for easier and safer structures at higher heights, lower weight limits and a better riding experience (quieter and having more hoops). These theories were implemented through the construction design of engineers and the calculations of mathematicians to make a design with the optimum economic and social appeal. 

[image: ][image: ][image: ]Another key concept that science as a human endeavour encompasses in Physics is Influence. In terms of roller coasters, safety is an ethical consideration made by engineers and scientists with the knowledge of the effects of gravity on a human body in a coaster cart, ensuring that the rider isn’t uncomfortable or facing fatal risks. Research from other scientific fields concludes that in order for muscle tension to be controlled, the human body needs time to detect the changes. Hence the fluctuating accelerations experienced throughout the ride cannot be more than the body can handle.  4–6Gs (40–60ms-2) range for pushing into your seat and 1.5-2Gs (15–20 ms-2) for being pushed out of your seats are the permissible levels of acceleration. The use of Clothoid loops was a safety consideration as the force produced in circular loops broke the neck of passengers.

In the early sledge hills, without navigation skills, there were many accidents. To keep the coasters in line, tracks were produced. This is an example of how society and ethical considerations have impacted the way science has been implemented and how modifications have subsequently been made. These new rollercoasters have continuous tracks and wheels locked to the rails and eventually cables that could hoist the carts back up. This is evidence of how a SHE principle is applied for societal considerations.

The roller coaster is a good example of how science can be a human endeavour as it proves how research between various disciplines can work collaboratively so that ethical and social problems can be avoided and so that the invention could be developed to an advanced enough stage to optimize the intended result; thrill and enjoyment. Whilst the development behind this invention isn’t always appreciated, it is definite that the happiness and thrills that these products of science have produced will forever leave a mark on the world for generations to come.

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