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Vsauce! Kevin here. Rollercoasters may have originated from Russian Mountains built in
the 17th century - these were large ice hills held with wooden supports and we've been innovating
amusement rides ever since like this 1919 concept that shot passengers out of a cannon
in a bullet-shaped capsule to land in a giant waterslide and end up in the lake below.
What the FAK!? The facts and knowledge on Roller Coasters.
People take 1.7 billion amusement park rides every year in the U.S. alone and the chances
of being injured while riding is only 1 in 24 million but riding on roller coasters can
be extremely scary because of cognitive dissonance where part of you understands there's no real
danger while the other part experiences genuine fear.
Located in Abu Dhabi, The Formula Rossa is the world's fastest roller coaster clocking
in at 240 km per hour. It accelerates to top speed in less than five seconds using a hydraulic
launch system that generates the velocity similar to aircraft carrier steam catapults.
Riders are required to wear protective eyeglasses because of the risk of impact with airborne
objects like insects.
The Kingda Ka in Jackson New Jersey holds the record for tallest roller coaster with
the main top hat tower reaching 456 feet. After a 90 degree roll to the right it reaches
the peak and then drops 418 feet down through a 270 degree right-handed spiral. The ride
lasts 28 seconds and in 2009 it was shut down for 3 months after suffering damage from a
lightning strike.
But U.S. Thrill Rides is planning to take the tallest record away with the Polercoaster.
It is slated to open in 2016 in Florida it will send riders down 520 feet at more than
60 mph.
The Steel Dragon 2000 opened in Japan in the year 2000, which was "The Year of the Dragon".
It holds the record for the longest track length at 8,133 feet and 2 inches. Because
the construction required so much steel for earthquake protection it cost over 50 million
dollars to build.
Also located in Japan, The Takabisha is known for having a drop angle of 121 degrees making
it the steepest roller coaster in the world.
The world's tallest vertical loop stands at 160 feet during the Full Throttle roller coaster
in California. There are 18 riders per train and each ride is under a minute long, giving
it the capacity to have 800 riders per hour. Full Throttle also features the first top
hat over a loop. A top hat is a common element in roller coasters where there is a hill with
a 90 degree ascent and descent.
But if you want to go on the roller coaster with the most inversions you'll have to head
to the United Kingdom to ride the Smiler. It has a world record of 14 total inversions
that are supposed to make you laugh, not barf.
A wing coaster is a type of steel roller coaster where pairs of riders sit on either side of
the track and there is nothing above or below them. The Gatekeeper, the fifth wing coaster
in the world, is located in Sandusky, OH. Opened in 2013 and has the highest inversion
in the world measuring 170 ft. and in the wing coaster category it holds the record
for the longest, fastest, longest drop, and most inversions.
When riders experience a moment of free falling with at least a 90 degree drop it is considered
a Dive Coaster. And the Griffon roller coaster in Virginia is the tallest and the fastest
dive coaster to date at 205 feet tall and 71 mph. There are also no other dive coasters
that feature floorless trains and it's the only roller coaster of its kind to have more
than one inversion.
The Tatsu is a flying roller coaster that gives riders a flight sensation. They're suspended
in a horizontal position where the cars are secured under the track and the rider's backs
are parallel to it. It holds records for the highest (170 ft), fastest (62 mph), and longest
of its kind. It's the only one to feature a zero gravity roll and had the world's highest
pretzel loop.
I'm gonna leave you with this. What's the name of this roller coaster and what's its
significance?
Before we go here's last video's winner. Leave your answer in the comments below and as always
- thanks for watching!