4th Dimension Question

Hey Guys (and Girls), I'm doing a project on the fourth dimension for my class, and I need to integrate a real world application of the 4th dimension. Naturally, Arrow's 4d came to mind. Does X actually represent the 4th Dimension? I know that you can create a Hypercube (a 4th dimension shape) by rotating the vertices on an axis. Since X rotates the train on an axis that is not on the 1, 2, or 3 dimension, I would assume it is a 4th dimension rotation, but I need some input. Thanks! :)

-----------------
"Enjoy your record-breaking ride on Millennium Force"

What class is that? I hope I never have to take it the way that sounds!

-----------------
Rollercoasters are my life, I think about them more than I think about....wait, thats all I think about :)

Proud Owner of www.coasterkingdom.cjb.net

I wasn't aware that the 4th dimension exists.

There's 1D, 2D, 3D, and 5D (5D is time), but 4D is unknown.

OK On rides we have Pitch (up and down) yaw (left and right) and thrust (forward and backwards) so I guess the spinning on a 4d could be considered the 4th dimension.

-----------------
Does CCI know how to make a bad coaster?

Hmm, and to think, all this time (pun intended) I thought time *was* the 4 dimension...actually, I still do...
jeremy
--who notes that the 4-d coasters still only use pitch, roll and yaw

Yeah, i was under the impression that the 4th was time. Bah, whatever.

-----------------
If the shoe fits, find another one.

X is called a 4 dimensional coaster because it has four dimensions to it, meaning that it can move in 4 different ways as Magnum Force Explained.

This does not realistically reflect at all on the aspect of the fourth dimension.

-------------
Planned Parks for this summer: SFoGa, CP, SFWoA, SFGAm, SFKK, PKI, MA, SFStL, HW, KW. Is 10 enough?
Cornerstone Festival 2002... I will be there

Though I would argue that the rotation of the seats are a secondary pitch axis, therefore not a fourth dimension. Arrow needs to create a time travelling coaster for it to be truly fourth dimensional ;-P

1st - 3rd dimensions are your x, y, z coordinates. The 4th dimension is that given point at certain point of time considering that time is linear. Seeing that X does not go backwards or forwards in time, it would not be a good example of the 4th dimension. The name 4D is a marketing term from Arrow.

-----------------
Bob Hansen

Bolliger/Mabillard for President/VP 2004

Its just a name,,,,,,Its just a coaster,,,,,,It moves up...down...forward.....and backward......If you take "X" when your on"X" you might slip into THE 4TH DIMENSION................??????????????

-----------------
---- IGGY .

Yes, X does not ACTUALLY represent the 4th Dimention or 4D. It is a term (concocted by Arrow marketing Dept) used to:

A: Describe their NEW type of rollercoaster design

B: Represent the fact that X (or other Arrow 4D coasters) have an added element of seat rotation, independent from the pitch/roll/yaw of the train to which it is connected. Thus, the "perception" of a fourth coordinate is presented.

-----------------
I've traded in my 2000 Giovanola for a 2002 Arrow X4D :)
My other car is now an Arrow X4D!

Bah. dimensions are dimensions. Robot arms can live in 7d space. X really does live in 4d space. by convention it would be (x,y,z,theta) which is just as much a four dimensional space as (x,y,z,time)

WARNING: ENGINEERING RANT

X does qualify as a coaster that moves in four dimensions, but so do ALL of them. The dimensions of x,y, and z are the classical coordinate system for space, and t is for time, thus 4D=(x,y,z,t)

The true uniqueness in X's train is that the seats move in 4 Degrees Of Freedom (DOF). Three for x,y,z movement and one for the seat rotation.

An example would be to put a RCT "Space Ring" on a moving platform, such as a coaster train. Anyone ready for that barf rocket???

Later,
EV
-----
"Just remember, wherever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Banzai

*** This post was edited by EchoVictor on 3/26/2002. ***

WARNING: ENGINEERING RANT

X does qualify as a coaster that moves in four dimensions, but so do ALL of them. The dimensions of x,y, and z are the classical coordinate system for space, and t is for time, thus 4D=(x,y,z,t)

The true uniqueness in X's train is that the seats move in 4 Degrees Of Freedom (DOF). Three for x,y,z movement and one for the seat rotation.

The changes in x,y, and z are called translation, while rotation is termed in pitch, roll, and yaw. The ultimate amount of movement would be 6 DOF, 3 translational (x,y,z) and three rotational (pitch, roll, yaw).
An example would be to put a RCT "Space Ring" on a moving platform, such as a coaster train. Anyone ready for that barf rocket???

Later,
EV
-----
"Just remember, wherever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Banzai

Accually, X does move in the 4th (time) dimension. All of them do, all of us do. We all move forward in time (or does it just seem forward, and we are really going through time backwards?)

Sorry, I just had to say that.

-----------------
Webmaster of Travis's Websites of Infinite Boredom!
Less than 2 months until SFGAm opens!

EchoVictor said:

An example would be to put a RCT "Space Ring" on a moving platform, such as a coaster train. Anyone ready for that barf rocket???
Later,
EV
-----

Ooo.... sounds good to me! Perhaps they could call it the Arrow 6D. ;)
-----------------
Men are like parking spaces... the good ones are all taken and the rest are handicapped or too far away.
www.TiggerMan.com

The 5th Dimension certainly does exist as well...it was a music group ;o)

Sorry...old joke from my Geometry teacher came back to mind.

-----------------
James Draeger
http://draegs.livejournal.com
"Legend is a wooden Jesus"

Thinking some more....

By Arrow's naming convention, you could actually call a Reverchon spinning wild mouse a 4D coaster. X,Y, and Z translation and full yaw rotation! 4-D(oF)!

Later,
EV
-----
"Just remember, wherever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Banzai

You must be logged in to post