The Thrill & Fear of Riding in a Roller Coaster's Front Car

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the psychological and physical sensations experienced while riding in the front car of a roller coaster. Participants explore the reasons behind the fear and thrill associated with this experience, touching on both psychological effects and physical principles, including acceleration and control.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that fear in roller coasters arises from a lack of control and the rapid changes in speed and direction, which can trigger a sense of danger in the brain.
  • Others argue that the experience is largely psychological, with one participant expressing a personal sense of relaxation on roller coasters, except for wooden ones which they find uncomfortable.
  • A participant highlights the role of acceleration, particularly when going downhill and during lateral movements, as a key factor in the fear experienced, especially in the first car where visibility of upcoming movements is limited.
  • Another participant describes the physics involved, noting that the first car experiences a different dynamic due to the tension from the following cars and the acceleration effects when crossing over the edge of a drop.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that both psychological and physical factors contribute to the experience of fear and thrill on roller coasters. However, there is no consensus on the primary cause, with some emphasizing psychological effects and others focusing on the physics of acceleration.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes varying interpretations of the role of physics and psychology, and some participants express uncertainty about where to post similar questions, indicating a potential lack of clarity in forum guidelines.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals exploring the intersection of psychology and physics, particularly in the context of thrill-seeking activities like roller coasters.

Alche
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Why do we feel terrified in roller coasters, especially when we sit in the first car in the edge?
 
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I don't really think this is the place to put this question, but i might as well answer anyway.

There are multiple reasons why we find roller coasters scary. Along with the fact they go really fast and can be quite high up (which scares people in itself) adding onto this roller coasters scare us due to a lack of control over the situation, the knowledge that you can't stop the roller coaster from rapidly throwing you about has quite a powerful effect on the mind of an individual.
 
I want some reason related to physics in this.

Sorry I am a new user. I'll take care from next time

Thanks for replying
 
There is no direct relation to physics. It's a purely psychological effect.

Personally, I feel rather relaxed in a roller coaster. Except the wooden ones. They hurt my back. Hard to relax because of that.
 
What you are feeling in a roller coaster and provoke an effect on you is the acceleration. The acceleration when going downhill, but even more the lateral acceleration when you are entering a curve or going upside down.

Acceleration means that your body is changing its speed and/or its direction. Normally your brain is supposed to control that and the fact that something else is controlling your body's position (especially so violently) can be interpreted as a sign of danger by your brain, thus creating fear.

If it is scarier in the first car, it is mostly because in the other cars, your brain can expect what will happen by seeing what happened to the cars in front of you. In the first car, your brain have more difficulties determining the acceleration you will be subjected to, making the experience more frightening.
 
Thanks everyone for replying. I agree it depends on an individual, but I was searching why the roller coaters accelerate the manner that causes the ride in the roller coaster frightening or thrilling. Finally I have got it,
As the cars move over the edge.. The first car is pulled down with 'mg' where m is the mass of the front car+people in it. However, the remaining cars are still attached to the first car and they exert a tension 'T' on the first car which will in the opposite direction to that of its velocity. But, when the last car crosses over the edge, the people in it experience the greatest acceleration as there is no force trying to pull it backwards. Hence, the answer.

Some one please tell where to post this kinds of questions?
 

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