Difference between Flat and Parabolic hills?

I know its the curvature of the hills, but does anyone have two pics comparing the two?

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800,000 years in 7 seconds: Time Machine the movie or next S&S creation?
"So Quoth the Lemon Chill Guy" (TM) (C)

Well, I'm not exactly an artist, but if this doesn't help I'll try to draw it...

The angles in a parabolic hills vary at an increasing/decreasing rate. Put the equation y = -x^2 into your graphing calculator (download Microsofts 'Powercalc' here-http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp if you dont own one) to see what I mean.

As for flat hills, the angles in them vary at a constant rate. Put in y = x to see what I mean.

To put it into simpler terms, flat hills tilt to an angle, drop, then level back out, parabolic hills' angles constantly change leaving little to no straight drop.

*** This post was edited by AirtimeAddict on 8/13/2002. ***

Even simpler, the letter V would be a flat hill, with flat sections. The letter U would be paroblic because it curves continously (well, not quite, but it should be good enough for an example.) An example of flat would be the bunny hops of Magnum (I think) and U would be the bunny hops on SD2K.

I have thought of the perfect way the describe the difference. On your driveway you create a giant ramp using a flat board of wood and some bricks. On your bike you speed over it. On your way up it is like a non parabolic path - the incline is a fixed angle. However, on your jorney down you follow a parabolic path.

To give real examples, the speed hills on Arrow hypers are not parabolic hills. There is a picture here. (the bunny hills at the bottom). Also, Phoenix at Knoebels had the same kind of hills - seen here. These types of hills often create extreme powerfull ejector air.

On the other hand, Intamin hypers use more parabolic shape seen here and here.

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The Other Siebert

Good description Drew! Certainly much simpler than graph equations And yeah, like Drew said, flat hills typically give ejector air since the curve isn't gradual, while parabolics give you nice floater air sine the curve is so long.

*** This post was edited by AirtimeAddict on 8/13/2002. ***

Thanks guys! I did actually get it with the equations. Gotta love that algebra! ;)

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800,000 years in 7 seconds: Time Machine the movie or next S&S creation?
"So Quoth the Lemon Chill Guy" (TM) (C)

Maybe this will help even a little more.

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