1. Seth Augustover Two-Way Conference Presentation 10/22/2005 EDIT 652
Physics Involved in the SKYCOASTER IT'S NOT HANG GLIDING BUT CLOSE - IT'S NOT SKY DIVING - BUT CLOSE - IT'S THE THRILL OF YOUR LIFE
Seth Augustover
Two-Way Conference Presentation
10/22/2005
EDIT 652

2. Outline Introduction Freefall & Gravity G-Forces
Potential vs Kinetic Energy
Centripetal Force
Centrifugal Force
What is the Skycoaster?
Skycoaster Video
Conclusion

3. Introduction
There is no reason to be scared of any amusement park ride.
All precautions taken are aimed to counter act the forces of any of the natural physics that act upon it.
These precautions include but are not limited to lap belts and shoulder restraints
Some rides that even go upside down DO NOT need any restraints other than a chair, but are only put there to calm the minds of the riders.

4. Freefall & Gravity
Gravity is a constant acceleration towards the Earth's surface of 9.8 m/s2.
Gravity is the only force acting on an object that is in free fall.
Objects of all masses fall at the same rate.
Elephant or Rock

5. G-Forces G-forces measure the force you feel
within Earth's gravitational field.
At 1 G, you feel your normal weight
as you would feel standing on the ground.
In zero G, you feel as though you have no weight at all.
During a free-fall ride or a sudden drop on an elevator, you may begin to experience this sensation.
At higher G's, you feel increasingly squashed in your seat.
An elevator as it begins going up or around a roller coaster loop

6. Potential vs Kinetic Energy
Potential Energy
think of a compressed spring
Kinetic Energy
actual moving energy
Potential Energy converts
to Kinetic Energy
Roller coasters can move
faster than 100 m.p.h. without even having an engine
Cars are pulled up the first hill, but then the coaster completes the ride on its own.
Potential energy converts to kinetic energy as gravity pulls the cars down the hill
Coaster completes the ride
Credit:

7. Centripetal Force
Centripetal Force is a force pushing an object toward the center of a curve.
It is required to keep an object in motion to remain in motion around a curve
The moon orbits the earth in a circular motion
In a roller coaster loop, riders are pushed inwards toward the center of the loop
car seat (at the loop's bottom) and by
gravity (at the loop's top).
Credit:

8. Centrifugal Force
Centrifugal Force is a force pushing an object away from the center of the curve.
To keep an object moving in a circular path, centrifugal force is always equal in magnitude but opposite in direction from centripetal force.
In a roller coaster loop, centrifugal force keeps the rider pushed down into his seat. As the speed increases seat restraints would not be necessary.
Credit:
physics/phys06/bcentrif/centrif.htm

9. What is the Skycoaster?
Amusement Rides such as the Skycoaster make a pendulum motion which incorporate all of the terms mentioned
Skycoaster is the world’s tallest free-fall ride
Riders are placed in special flight suits
fastened to steel cables that can hold
up to 9,000 lbs each. 
They are pulled up to the top of the
tower at the height of 300 feet. 
They pull their own ripcord starting
their plunge downward toward for
120 feet straight down, then the cables
gently catch them
Reaches speeds of 85 mph.

10. Skycoaster Video Watch the video
Identify when the different forces we talked about are displayed

11. Conclusion
Amusement Rides such as the Skycoaster is extremely popular because of the amount of Physics acting on it at anytime.
Now we can identify all the forces involved in amusement park rides and we could explain why or why not going on these rides is safe.