homeWelcome, sign in or click here to subscribe.login
     


 

 

Weekend


Subscriber content preview

April 1, 2005

Strange But True!

Q. It's roughly tantamount to falling 20 stories out of the sky, accelerating to 75 mph and thumbing your nose at the onrushing Earth (and living to brag about it). You're aboard "the incredible scream machine." What's coming next?

A. At the last split second, the roller coaster track curve pulls you up and jolts you with about 3.5 G-forces of deceleration, close to the gravity load — briefly! — of shuttle astronauts going into orbit (at 150 pounds you'll "weigh" 525), says Cleveland State University's Jearl Walker in "Flying Circus of Physics, With Answers."


 
. . .


To read this story in full login or purchase a subscription.



Previous columns:



Email or user name:
Password:
 
Forgot password? Click here.