Roller coasters are known for being one of the most exciting and thrilling rides in any amusement park. A roller coaster consists of a track that the carriage rides on, along with various dips and turns that the carriage experiences as it travels down the track.
The thrill comes from the speed at which the carriage travels and the ups and downs it goes through. The faster it goes, the more ups and downs it experiences, of course!
The most interesting question about roller coasters is: What is the minimum rotational frequency, in rpm, for which the ride is safe? In other words, what is the minimum speed that the carriage can travel around the track while still providing a thrilling experience?
This article will answer this question and explain how engineers determine the safety limit for roller coasters.
Torque
A second factor in determining the maximum rotation of a ride is torque, or how much force the ride applies to the carriage.
Torque determines how quickly the ride turns and how much force is needed to keep it turning. For example, a carousel horse may turn slowly due to its weight, but requires more torque to turn it because of this weight.
Too little torque will result in no rotation, while too much will result in an uncomfortable or unsafe ride. Too much torque could even break the equipment.
Like speed, there is a minimum acceptable level of torque for a safe and comfortable ride. Once again, engineers and inspectors determine this level through testing.
Angular velocity
There is a minimum speed at which a merry-go-round can operate without causing discomfort or unpleasantness to the rider. This speed is dependent on how large and heavy the rider is, as well as how tall the merry-go-round is.
Very small riders can ride on very small merry-go-rounds, and as long as the angular velocity (how many degrees per second that the merry-go-round moves) is high enough, they will not feel uncomfortable.
The reason for this is because weight does not factor into the equation that determines whether or not a person feels comfortable on a rotating object. What does factor into this equation, however, is surface area!
A larger person has more surface area than a smaller person of the same weight, so in order to make someone of any size feel comfortable on a rotating object, you must increase their surface area.
Rotational acceleration
A second, equally important safety factor is the rotational acceleration, or how quickly the floor changes direction.
If the floor changes direction slowly, then it takes a longer time for someone to get disoriented and lose their sense of which way is up.
As mentioned before, this is called “low-frequency” and “low-friction” and it is just as important as having a low floor rotation rate. A low frequency ride doesn’t mean it’s scary, it just means it takes longer to get to your destination!
Having a lower rotational acceleration also helps prevent G-force related symptoms such as visual impairment or vomiting. This is because your body doesn’t feel like it’s being pulled in any one direction, so you don’t fight that pull.
Power
A second factor that influences the intensity of the ride is the power, or how hard you push on the pedal. The harder you push, the faster you will cycle, and vice versa.
Depending on the version, bikes have either one or two sets of pedals. The ones that have two are called dual-pedal bikes and offer an additional level of challenge. You have to balance on both pedals at once while cycling!
The speed of the bike depends heavily on your power output. The better you are at producing power, the faster your bike will go. Does not matter what bike you are on, you will be able to cycle at the same speed if you are able to produce enough power.
The problem comes in when people who are heavier attempt to cycle faster bikes. They may be able to produce enough power to do it, but their weight causes instability and makes it more difficult to keep cycling.
Braking systems
The braking system of a spinning ride is what ensures that riders are safely and smoothly lowered to the ground.
The force of the spinning ride is balanced by the braking system, which may consist of rotating discs, cables, and levers.
Rotating discs may be found in carousel rides or roller coasters where riders are seated on a moving platform that is rotated by a disc underneath it.
A cable pulling down on a lever may be found in drop towers where there is only one level and no platforms for riders to stand on. A long cable pulling down on a lever pulls the platform down to the ground.
Lever-operated systems may be found in haunted house rides where riders are suspended in a cage above moving platforms that are pulled down by a lever.
Safety concerns with high-frequency rides
A major concern with spinning bikes is the potential for injury due to their speed. As mentioned earlier, some experts claim that the ideal bike speed is around 20 miles per hour, which is approximately equivalent to 10 kilometers per hour.
Some users find that they enjoy riding at a faster speed, even if it puts them in a sweat at first. Many find that as they get used to the bike, their body adjusts to the exercise and they end up sweating at similar rates at different speeds.
However, there is a point where riders no longer have control over their body and the bike does not stop on its own. If riders are going too fast, then they may be putting themselves at risk of injury.
There have been cases of spinal cord injuries in individuals who were riding an exercise bike at an ideal cycling speed of 20 miles per hour for 30 minutes.
What you should look for when evaluating a ride
As mentioned before, the minimum rotational frequency, or minimum RPMs a ride needs to be considered safe is 2000. There are a few reasons for this number.
The first is safety features. Many rides have safety features that prevent the ride from going down an empty track at low RPMs. For example, many roller coasters have security gates that only lift when the train is moving at a certain speed.
The second reason is physics- if the ride rotated less than 2000 RPMs, the ride would not displace enough water to avoid drowning passengers. This would be dangerous, as there would be no way for someone to get out of the water.
The last reason is more of a personal preference- most people find that rides are most enjoyable at around that speed. Less experienced riders may find higher speeds more enjoyable, but there are more risks involved with those speeds.
Induces nausea or headaches
One of the biggest concerns with VR is that users will experience nausea or headaches after using the headset.
VR experiences can be immersive, and if the user feels like they are moving in reality, it can trigger feelings of motion sickness.
Because VR completely surrounds the user in a virtual environment, any movement they feel in the real world will be transferred to their VR experience.
If the user is walking around in their VR experience, they will feel some physical movement as well as cognitive dissonance between what they’re seeing and feeling.
This can easily lead to nausea or a headache after exposure. The more time spent in VR also increases risk of these symptoms.
