#Magnetix coaster series

We also offer custom magnets to best fit your magnet needs. Contact Apex Magnets Today!Īt Apex Magnets, we sell strong permanent magnets in many shapes, sizes, and configurations to best fit your needs. A great example of a roller coaster that uses a friction wheel is Universal’s Incredible Hulk, which launches the cart up a steep hill. This allows the roller coaster to take off at great speeds.

#Magnetix coaster series

When the series of tires come into contact with the metal fins below the roller coaster, they pinch the metal fins. A friction wheel consists of multiple horizontal tires, powered by hydraulic or electric motors, that spin in opposite directions. Friction WheelĪnother way to control the speed of a roller coaster is with a friction wheel, which is commonly used to launch a roller coaster. Because of this, roller coasters are able to slow down and stop smoothly. Below the roller coaster, a magnetic metal fin causes the magnetic fields to push in opposite directions when met with the permanent magnet. With permanent magnets, roller coasters can stop without an energy source, and they’ll still work even if there’s a power outage. On the flip side of magnetic propulsion, permanent magnets are used to stop roller coasters. Magnetic propulsion is replacing the original chain system that pulls roller coasters uphill when the ride starts. Magnetic propulsion can make roller coasters go from 0 mph up to 100 mph in a matter of seconds. This occurs through the process of electromagnetic propulsion, which is where electrical impulses force magnets between the track and bottom of the train to repel instead of attracting. Have you been on a rollercoaster that starts unexpectedly or accelerates up a hill instead of a slow, gradual incline? Believe it or not, strong magnets are used in roller coasters to create an unexpected acceleration at the beginning of the ride. Because of magnets' beneficial properties, we’ll continue to see permanent magnets used in roller coasters.

Today, many roller coasters use strong permanent magnets to accelerate or decelerate because of their durability and quick ability to attract or repel. Does it accelerate unexpectedly at the beginning, or is there a gradual build-up of speed?īoth motors and gravity control the speed of roller coasters as potential energy transfers to kinetic energy however, there are other ways to start, stop, and control roller coasters, such as strong permanent magnets. You also have to consider how fast the roller coaster is. There’s a lot to consider, such as the material of the roller coaster, the intended rider, cart type, if there will be hills and loops, and more. If you're a roller coaster engineer, you know the importance of the design, testing, and implementation stages.