2.2: Definitions of Roller-Coaster terms: M-R
Description
This article is from the Roller Coaster FAQ, by Geoff Allen geoff@eecs.wsu.edu with numerous contributions by others.
2.2: Definitions of Roller-Coaster terms: M-R
Machine
Term sometimes used in reference to a roller coaster.
Manual Brake
A hand-operated <<station brake>>, where the train is stopped by the
muscle power of the operator. Most often found on <<classic coasters>>.
Sometimes, the operator may not apply enough force and the train will
overshoot the station. If you're on board when this happens, you'll be
one of the lucky ones getting a free ride!
Negative G's
(Short for "Negative Gravity") See <<Airtime>>.
Out and Back
A style of roller coaster. The name describes the general configuration
of the ride, basically an elongated oval in which the train goes out to
a turnaround and then returns to the station. The truest form of this
would have no other curves besides the turnaround. Another way to do
this would be to put a couple of 90 degree turns (see <<dog leg>>) in
the ride giving it a L-shape. In general out and backs have higher
speeds than designs with more tight turns.
Parabolic
A coaster hill that has an almost continuous curve and very little, if
any, straight track.
Pay One Price
An amusement park admission which includes all rides and shows. The
alternative is for every ride to require a separate ticket (or tickets,
as the case may be).
Point of View
A view of a roller coaster as seen from the rider's point of view. This
is often done from the front seat, but can be from any seat on the
train. Both still and moving pictures can be "Point of View." Roller
coaster designers often create Point of View animations of roller
coasters that haven't been built yet, to give parks an idea of what the
ride will be like.
Pipeline
A coaster design by Arrow Dynamics in which the cars ride between the
rails, allowing such maneuvers as "barrel rolls" to be performed. No
pipeline coasters have been built yet, but similar designs are the TOGO
Ultra Twister and <<Heartline Coaster>>. B&M's <<Inverted>> coasters
feature a <<"heartline">> flip, which is similar to a barrel roll,
though not exactly the same.
Positive G's
Those forces which pull you downward, often appearing at the bottom of
hills, and in steel looping elements.
Racer
Any coaster that runs two trains that leave the station at the same time
and "race" other, most often on parallel tracks.
[Images: RACER*.GIF, RUSA.GIF, ROLLTH01.GIF]
Ratchet
A claw-toothed steel bar running on certain inclines that prevents a
train from rolling backwards. The ratchet causes the clanking sound
associated with the chain lift (also referred to as the "anti-rollback"
device or "Ratchet Dogs"). The ratchet itself does not stop the train.
This is done by a device affixed to the bottom of the car which catches
in the ratchet.
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