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Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program CSTEP
Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program CSTEP


2002 ARISE Scholar: Colin Seale
 
The Ups and Downs of Roller Coaster Physics: Development of a Computer Analysis Program To Enhance Thrill-Ride Safety

Colin Seale Roller coasters are a very popular source of entertainment in today's society, as there are over 600 coasters in the United States alone. As coasters become more popular, coaster enthusiasts require more of a thrill, requiring designers to make rides more "death-defying." With the increasing complexity and intricacy of these machines, safety has become an increasingly important concern for ride designers. In order to address this concern, I have designed a roller coaster physics analysis program using the C programming language. This program takes in the dimensions of sections of a roller coaster ride, such as a loop or a straightaway, and explains the physical forces and effects that the proposed design will have on the rider. This is significant because it gives designers a tool to see how a coaster will affect riders' safety before the coaster is built, thus saving money, time, and energy.

 





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