Can Roller Coasters Cause Brain Trauma?
A growing number of injuries on amusement park rides are not being caused by accidents, but by rides that function exactly as intended, reports The New York Times. This suggests that the increasing intensity of the rides plays a role. A decade ago, no roller coaster in the United States rose more than 200 feet. Now, the record is 400 feet. And no longer do the coasters depend on gravity alone; some rides propel passengers from 0 to 70 miles an hour in less than four seconds. Their motors were originally designed to launch rockets, the newspaper says. In October, New Jersey will become the first state to limit the gravitational force (G-force) on rides, which is the force imposed on the body by acceleration, deceleration and general speed. For example, it’s what pins you to your seat as the ride hurls forward. While G-force gives riders the thrill they experience, it also can cause injuries including bleeding in the brain and stroke, some researchers have documented. Space shuttle astro
