When presented with the assignment to read a nonfiction science book, I wanted to choose a book that aligned with my interests, but was still informative. Therefore, the book I chose is called Coasters 101: An Engineer’s Guide to Roller Coaster Design by Nick Weisenberger, published on November 29, 2011. It took me around two days to read the entire book. As soon as I started reading, I was drawn in, spending around 4 hours each day with a few short, 5-minute breaks in between. Since I’ve been enamored by roller coasters my entire life, this was a read that kept me focused and allowed me to read for such long periods of time.
The main point of the book is to reveal what designing roller coasters actually consists of, specifically highlighting the physics that must be considered to make them both safe and thrilling. G-forces describe the acceleration riders experience from changes in speed or direction and are measured in comparison to the Earth’s gravitational pull. There are three main g-forces that designers need to precisely measure during the coaster designing process. Positive g-forces press riders down into their seat, negative g-forces lift riders out of their seats, and lateral g-forces push the riders to the sides of the vehicle. Their intensity, duration, and direction affect the human body, making it crucial for designers to ensure they aren’t too intense or threatening to a rider’s health. Designers also need to measure the energy that’s being transferred throughout the coaster layout. They need to build up enough potential energy, stored energy from height, that can be transferred to kinetic energy, energy created by movement, to complete a full circuit. However, they also must account that kinetic energy could transfer to thermal energy due to friction, which slows the coaster vehicle down. Together, these factors help designers create the roller coasters we know and love.
Looking at the book from a reader’s point of view, I found the information that I was being told to be credible. Weisenberger wasn’t just deciding the physics that needed to be considered when designing roller coasters. He made sure to present the information with real-world examples of roller coasters that have already been designed, along with visual models that are used to explain certain coaster aspects. For example, Weisenberger uses Revolution’s teardrop loop at the amusement park Six Flags Magic Mountain along with a circular loop model to effectively explain how g-forces on a teardrop-shaped loop are less intense on the human body than on a circular loop. Overall, Coasters 101 has opened my eyes to the science behind roller coasters and permanently changed my viewpoint of them. I used to look at coasters and just think of the visuals and on-ride experiences they provide. Now, after reading the book, I’ll look at them from a standpoint of what needed to be scientifically evaluated to create such a magnificent, but safe structure.
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