Chronology Current Month Current Thread Current Date
[Year List] [Month List (current year)] [Date Index] [Thread Index] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Prev] [Date Next]

Re: [Phys-l] Centrifugal redux

Rick,
Opryland, USA, in Nashville (now a casualty of the shopping mall craze...sigh) had a ride called the Delta Demon. It was a free-rolling car which held about 12 or 14 people that travelled down and around curves and hills inside a 2/3 pipe about 5 m in diameter. My favorite ride at the park because it wasn't on a track and made a delightful "roar" from the rubber wheels on the pipe walls.

Bill

"Rick Tarara" <rtarara@saintmarys.edu> 3/18/2009 1:04 pm >>>

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bernard Cleyet" <bernardcleyet@redshift.com>

p.p.s. Is an unintended consequence of our overly litigious society a
decreased experience of centrifugal force at a young age?


Yes and no. Today's extreme coasters certainly provide a variety of
'force' experiences--but most lasting for only a short time. I do fear that
my favorite amusement park ride of the late 50s would be hard to find today.
It was called 'rocket to the moon' and was a large turntable slanted at
15-20 degrees with the 'rocket' being a donut shaped cylinder on the outer
edge of the turnable portion--cut out at the top so you could get in and sit
(or lay) on some padded seats. The thing would spin fast enough that you
couldn't easily (if at all) sit back up when in motion. No way now to know
the 'g' forces, but certainly 2 g's and probably 3--and sustained for
minutes. (My other favorite was called the 'bobsled' and you rode in a free
wheeling cart that rolled down (and up the sides) of an enclosed tube that
had elevation changes along with numerous turns. The free wheeling part
would be frowned on today!)

Rick


_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l