How Does a Zip Line Work?
A zip line is a very simple mechanism for getting quickly from Point A to Point B. It’s a practical tool for the military, and it’s a fun experience for kids. A significant slope is the first necessary ingredient for a working zip line. That’s because it provides the automatic gravitational pull on the weight of the person using the zip line, thus causing them to slide downward toward the other end (Point B). A slope could begin on the roof of a building and end at an adjacent building, several floors down. It could begin on a tree at the top of a hill and end on a tree at the bottom of a hill. The slope does not have to be extremely steep, but the steeper it is the faster the zip line will work. This makes it quicker and a lot more fun. Rope is the actual “line” portion of the zip line, and it is attached to a point at the upper end of the slope, stretched tight and attached to a point at the lower end of the slope. If the slope provides the power (gravitational force), then the rope
