History
The roller coaster has its
origins in St. Petersburg, Russia. The first roller
coasters, known as the Russian Mountains (shown in
the bottom left image), were wood-framed ice slides
down seventy foot high slopes in 16th century.
According to the American
Coaster Enthusiasts, this early form of roller
coasters became a popular attraction in the
summertime. Builders and developers of roller
coasters began to understand the physics of roller
coasters more, allowing them to create more
extravagant, faster rides. "In 2003, Cedar Point
opened Top Thrill Dragster, which uses hydraulics to
blast trains from 0 to 120 miles per hour in just
seconds up to a height of 420 feet." (American
Coaster Enthusiasts).
Below is an image of the Russian
Mountains then to the right is the Top
Thrill Dragster.
 
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