Roller Coasters & Their Effects on Our Sense of Balance

Climbing on a roller coaster is not for the faint of heart. Approaching the entry gate to the coaster cars presents an opportunity to see exactly how high you will be climbing on the ride. An exaggerated sense of imbalance is common on these rides due to the combination of high speeds and unrelenting turns.

Steel Coasters

• Steel roller coasters boast high speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour as well as wild twists that result in various degrees of turns. Steel coasters have computerized control systems with safety measures programmed into them. The computers also stabilize the cars on the tracks and lock the braking unit into place when necessary. Because steel coasters typically complete upside-down turns and gravity-defying maneuvers, a lap bar as well as an over-the-shoulder harness are utilized to secure passengers in their cars during the ride.

Physical Effects of Free-Falling

• Brave souls who venture onto a steel roller coaster face multiple physical effects determined by the number of turns, types of twists, degree of speeds and whether their passenger car travels on top of or beneath the track. One specific detail that affects a rider's sense of balance is the physics of each turn. Experiencing a free-falling loop, for example, throws off the rider's typical, expected state of gravity. That sense of free falling distorts the horizon and the rider's perception of her environment, thus leaving her disoriented and unbalanced.

Wooden Coasters

• The construction and implementation of wooden roller coasters preceded steel ones by more than 200 years. Wooden coasters offer fun and excitement due to their tall peaks and fast descents. Riding a wood coaster is different than an average steel one because the cars climb the track slower but still descend the other side at high speeds. Turns on wood coasters also leave riders sliding back and forth in their long bench-style seats. Over-the-chest harnesses are not common on wood coasters because they do not flip upside down. A lap bar is the sole standard safety measure when riding this type of coaster.

Mental Effects

• Wooden roller coasters look daunting and feel exhilarating. This combination creates an undeniable series of circumstances experienced by riders when traveling around the track. As the cars reach the top and riders prepare to descend on the other side, their sense of balance becomes unsettled. Being tossed side-to-side in wooden coaster seats is more prevalent due to the double-seating most rides of this type offer. As you slide back and forth, this chaotic shifting of directions coupled with the visually erratic environment surrounding riders enhances their feeling of imbalance.