Roller coasters obviously reach speeds
that lots of people aren't used to going. This is why
it's very important that coasters have extremely
effective breaking systems, because without them, there
would clearly be some very dangerous problems. Old
coasters and new coasters have different breaking
systems, but both are effective.
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| Eddy-Current Brakes |
| Eddy-Current Brakes These type of brakes are more modernly used than friction brakes, and are said to be more reliable. They actually use electromagnets, similarly to the launch system, but somewhat opposite in a way. First of all, there is a conductor on the track of these coasters. There is also a magnet on both the track and the cars. A running current goes through the conductor to create a charge on the track's magnets that is opposite to that on the cars' magnets. Therefore, with opposite charges, the magnet on the track attracts to the magnet on the cars, causing the train to slow down. Again, this stop is gradual, meaning the charges on the magnets gradually increase as they go further down the track, causing them to gradually become more attractive to one another, eventually bringing the train to a stop. |
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| Friction Brakes |
| Friction Brakes Many old roller coasters, especially wooden coasters, use a specific type of braking system which involves friction. But where does the friction come from? Well, friction usually causes heat, right? When a coaster train is riding on the track, its wheels actually rub against the track. This is where the friction comes from, which gradually slows the coaster. (It is very important that this decrease in speed is gradual for obvious safety reasons.) However, there are other factors to take into consideration as well. These both involve air. Any moving object will have some sort of air resistance, including trains on a roller coaster. This also plays a part in slowing it down. At the very end of the ride, air brakes can also help bring it to a complete stop. |