Comments by "SmallSpoonBrigade" (@SmallSpoonBrigade) on "Why roller coaster loops aren't circular" video.

  1. Yep, this is why when you're engineering something like that, you'd likely want to go with a shape that keeps acceleration to a tolerable level and adjusts the radius to make that work.
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  2. Yep, it's the logical result of knowing that a = (v^2)/r. If you don't want acceleration to increase, then either v^2 and r have to be constant or r has to increase by the square of velocity. This leads to the conclusion that the radius is probably the thing you want to be messing with if you want to go faster without killing the riders. If you want to do completely circular, you pretty much have to do that sideways, as gravity is constant that way and the problematic acceleration is also more or less constant and you can get a roller coaster into that position with less trouble than with the more vertical types.
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  3. They could make a perfectly round roller coaster loop, it would just have to be a very slow loop and there'd have to be a second set of wheels to keep the roller coaster from falling off the track. Using a shape that keeps the acceleration more constant and allows a transition to the necessary speed at the top of the loop to keep the car and those in it on the tracks is usually a lot more fun.
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  4. Yes, you could lower the g-forces, but then you're likely to have the car fall off the track at the top, or you can have the higher g-forces and risk injuring the passengers. Changing the shape was ultimately the best choice as the varying radius could help to cushion the impact of the acceleration and allow for the car to stay on the track at the top and the passengers to not be hanging from the seat belt.
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  5. Just wait, it will be eventually...
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