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Three reasons you shouldn鈥檛 be afraid of rollercoasters
[00:00:01] Speaker 1 Are you afraid rollercoasters? Also known as veloxrotophobia, it's one of the most common fears in the world. From towering lows to stomach churning drops, rollercoasters are marvels of engineering and physics. And here, amidst the hum of innovation, I'm about to unveil five facts as to why you shouldn't let your fear of rollercoasters hold you back from enjoying the thrill.
[00:00:20] Speaker 1 Fact one, structural integrity. Rollercoasters are built with robust materials and precise engineering, providing a safe experience.
[00:00:30] Speaker 2 To make sure that a roller coaster is safe for users to use, ensure that it is theoretically possible that it will run the track smoothly and safely. When everything is guaranteed, the rollercoaster proceed to the building stage.
[00:00:44] Speaker 1 Fact two, gravity. Rollercoasters leverage gravity principles to create smooth and exhilarating rides.
[00:00:49] Speaker 3 What you don't want your riders to do is to sort of pass out as they're going through a loop the loop, because that wouldn't be good for business, let's face it. So we build that into the projects that the students do. So we make sure that they're doing the calculations that define the G-forces that the riders would experience if this were scaled up and actually built.
[00:01:08] Speaker 1 Fact number three, safety features. Rollercoasters are designed with emergency brakes and secure restraints in order to minimise risk.
[00:01:19] Speaker 4 Roller coasters are incredibly safe because they are designed with safety features based on the intensity of the ride itself, so if the ride's going upside down is more likely to have over the shoulder restraints, whereas if it's just a more chilled out ride, less intense, then it's probably going to have a lap bar.
[00:01:35] Speaker 1 Fact four, precision engineering. Rollercoaster design involves various calculations to achieve balance, speed, acceleration, and an optimal track layout for a thrilling yet safe ride.
[00:01:45] Speaker 3 There's a lot of precision engineering. It's important that our students really get an understanding of how the roller coasters would be built in real life, how precisely the track is built so we don't have energy losses because that's going to represent an uncontrolled situation as well as unwanted forces in other parts of the structure that we definitely don't want.
[00:02:05] Speaker 3 Fact five, regular maintenance. Routine inspection and maintenance protocols are in place to identify any potential issues.
[00:02:12] Speaker 5 The type of maintenance that will be involved. If roller coaster to be lubrication of different kind of bearings, they'll be checking for structural damage and any kind of wear and tear that you would see on the roller coaster by visual inspection.
[00:02:23] Speaker 3 So there you have it. Five reasons why you shouldn't let your fear of rollercoasters hold you back. Rollercoasters are a testament to the meticulous work of engineers. If you're fascinated by this and want to be part of creating these incredible experiences, then consider applying to one of our Engineering courses.
Are you afraid of rollercoasters? Our engineering students explain why you shouldn鈥檛 be afraid by exploring the world of rollercoaster design. In the video below, they look at how engineers ensure every twist, turn, and loop聽is safely designed and measured聽with meticulous attention to detail to keep thrill-seekers safe.
1. Structural Integrity
Using cutting-edge CAD software technology, students like Malak, a BEng (Hons) mechanical engineering undergrad, measured the structural integrity of their rollercoaster through simulative digital environments, guaranteeing each passenger鈥檚 ride 鈥渨ill run the track smoothly鈥�.
Our state-of-the-art engineering faculties聽from聽CAD and programming labs to workshop聽spaces聽allow students like Malak to create and innovate freely while prioritising safety at every turn.
2. Gravity
Transitioning from design to reality, mechanical engineering students were then聽tasked聽with creating miniature models for their rollercoasters. These models enable students to calculate the g-force riders would experience, ensuring gravity is leveraged to maintain the safety of everyone onboard. Led by Engineering Technical Manager Jon Isaacs, an industry expert, students聽were able to receive聽invaluable guidance and safety insights to refine their creations.
Leveraging our industry-standard software and technology, our mechanical engineering students conducted rigorous safety tests and measurements on their rollercoaster replicas. Using a hydraulic press machine, our students measured the structural damage in their inventions. This precision engineering approach ensures the early detection of potential weaknesses in the rollercoaster鈥檚 structure, allowing students to reinforce their models to meet safety standards.
Our Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) provides students with lifelong career skills to thrive within the industry. Our experienced staff are always available to make joining our mechanical engineering team a thrilling, inclusive, and invaluable experience.聽
Alongside tackling rollercoasters, our engineering courses聽also聽offer students an opportunity to explore the world of Formula 1, Electronic Vehicles (EV), 3D printers, and dozens of workshops.聽
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