Roller Coaster Physics

Please keep your hands and feet inside this video ride at all times! Strap in, hang on, and prepare yourself for a rather thrilling lesson in applied physics, with some physiology thrown in for good measure as Roller Coaster Physics takes viewers on some of the world's coolest, biggest, fastest roller coasters, in order to demonstrate concepts such as friction, acceleration, gravity, and potential/kinetic energy. In between rides, the program explores how inertia, or G-force, is behind the human response to roller coasters, inspiring either extreme thrills or vomit-inducing fears. In fact, the creative camerawork and great editing will either really get you excited or make you feel a little sick (but at least you'll know how ride height and potential energy are related!). Fun facts keep audience interest up, with the most hilarious moments occurring during an interview with a structural engineer as he whizzes around a track at breakneck speed, surrounded by shrieking riders, while calmly explaining inertia ("at 6 Gs your nose may start to bleed," he informs us in clipped British tones). The program closes with discussion questions, which viewers can ponder after their heart rates slow down. Who knew physics could be such a scream? Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: J, H. (E. Gieschen)