TedEd: How rollercoasters affect your body

A TedEd by Brian D. Avery

Rollercoasters used to be much more dangerous. In 1895, crowds watched on the Coney Island boardwalk as the Flip Flap Railway took passengers for the first time. It was the first ever looping rollercoaster, but its thrills came at a price. People suffered neck injury and whiplash, and in severe cases, were ejected. Today, we can have far more thrilling rides without such dangers. How? Rollercoasters are operated using gravitational force, building potential energy as they go up, and releasing kinetic energy as they go down. But early designers were so concerned with making sure the cars didn't get stuck halfway up that they overcompensated. They failed to account for the fact that gravity affects your body as well. G-forces are the units used by most people to describe the amount of gravitational force, with 1G being normal gravity. Today, we know that bodies can handle around 5G's, whereas old rollercoasters were up around 12G's. At that amount, blood rushes to different parts of the body, causing blackouts, dizziness, and crimson vision. At negative G's riders become weightless, potentially making them fly out without the proper precautions. Modern straps and buckles have largely solved this problem, and there are also no sharp turns, which prevent whiplash and back pain. Increased G-forces also multiply weight, and sturdier rails have also allowed for better rides.