Coaster Classification Essay

Hi! I'm in an AP Composition class, and I have to write a classificaiton essay. What better thing to classify than coasters

First, I have to pick the quality that I am going to use to classify. Some things that I thought of are:

Ways of Aquiring Speed - ex: type of launch (such as LIM, Hydraulic, and pure gravity..although I only know of those ways..so not too much detail there)

Type of Coaster - ex: Standup, Floorless, Hyper-twister

Height: StrataCoaster, Giga, Hyper, Junior, etc.

Please share you thoughts, and provide examples of how I should classify...thanks for your help!!

As opposed to "ways of acquiring speed", I think "ways of imparting energy" would be better. The counterpart of the launch on a traditional coaster is the chain lift, not gravity.

Rolling stock would probably be a more technical (and descriptive) way to say type.

Inverting/non-inverting is also a good way.

I also am a pretty big opponent of classification schemes because of pigeon holing. Thus, I think it would be interesting to mention that many rides don't fit into a nice classification scheme - S:TE, overbanked turns, things that drop 200' but don't have 200' height, things that have height but not drop, stand up and looping coaster (which has two different kinds of rolling stock) etc. etc. etc.

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ApolloAndy said:
As opposed to "ways of acquiring speed", I think "ways of imparting energy" would be better. The counterpart of the launch on a traditional coaster is the chain lift, not gravity.

I think you mean "method of dissipating potential energy." ;)

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--Maddie--
What do I Listen-To?
Hot stuff.

Yeah, I was unable how to word "ways of aquiring speed"...I would have found something better for the essay, but I figured it would work okay for here. I think I'm leaning towards that topic. The only ways that I know of are: LIM, Hydraulic (TTD), Elevator Style (MF), and regular chain lift. Any other ways/ideas? Thanks again!

Flywheel Launch (Some/All of Anton's Shuttle Loops)

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« adix@nedesigns.com »

Raging Bull is best when you're first. [6/16/03]

Could you please explain what "Flywheel Launch" is..and a few examples of what coasters use it? Thanks!!

There's no way I could explain it without being wrong on so many counts, mainly because I really don't know how exactly it works....

This is a job for... RIDE-MAN!

However, I do know it was used on at least some of the Schwarkopf Shuttle Loops.

Edit: Check out This Page, and srcoll down to where it talks about shuttle loops...

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« adix@nedesigns.com »

Raging Bull is best when you're first. [6/16/03]
*** This post was edited by Adix 10/18/2003 3:53:41 PM ***

To the best of my knowledge, the flywheel is located under the station. A flywheel is a giant wheel with a cable attached to it. the flywheel is under the front of the station. the cable has a hook that attaches to the back of the car. in the tower holding the steel spire up (as on montezooma's revenge and greezed lightning), their is a large weight. When the weight is dropped, the cable wraps around the flywheel, pulling the car forward, and launching it.

That is my knowledge of it.

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I am one.
I am Turbo.
Top Thrill in the front row... anything else is lame
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That's a weird amalgam of how to the systems work.

A flywheel launch is powered by a motor. It engages a drum that accelerates very quickly and launches the train.

The weight drop launch has the large steel tube at one end and is launched by the dropping of a massive counter-weight.

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--Maddie--
What do I Listen-To?
Hot stuff.

A list of all Schwarzkopf shuttle loops.

Be careful, some of those aren't Flywheel launch.

And Here's a list of all Schwartzkopf shuttles , just for fun. :)

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How about track and structure materials?
-Wood
-Wood with steel structure
-Steel with wood (Mine Trains)
-Steel and Steel
-Steel smothered and covered
Stuff like that.

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Josh
CCI here I come!
"It all started with a Mouse" - WED

....thats another good idea. Thanks for your contribution!!