gravity and rollercoasters...

Launching a ride train on an orbiting space platform will have little if any effect on the orbit. Remember that we are talking about a self contained system. The platform would change velocity a little at the instant of the launch, but that would be canceled out when the coaster is stopped again. Frictional effect could result in a little long term effect, but I wouldn't think it would be dramatic.

Notice that I said a ride train, not a roller coaster train. A roller coaster as we know it is a device that produces the ride experience by exchanging potential and kinetic energy. In a zero G environment, there would be no change in potential energy, hence not true roller coaster. You wouldn't slow going uphill and accelerate going down hill. What we would have might be thought of a being more like "Test Track" in space

CPgenius, my thoughts on the whole "coach Knight issue" notwithstanding, I feel pretty safe predicting a much lower "turnover/transfer rate" under the new coach. Bobby Knight definitely got a LOT out of his players, and many still STAUNCHLY defend him. It's just my opinion that intimidation may well be motivational, but I have to believe there's a better way...I HAVE to...

BTW, I did successfully predict an incoming "shell" from my first comment...so my prediction records remains better than my coaching record...but I still think you'll have to wait a looooonnnngg time before seeing coach K (or even Roy Williams) grab a player by the throat...(Bob Huggins may be another story, but we rarely now what goes on in the locker room).

How does this all relate to the 0-g rollercoaster idea...well, coach Knight DID predict that IU hoops would fall into a black hole after his departure...(little astrophysics humor there)...:)

My response wasn't meant to be a "shell"...if you say something on a controversial issue, there's bound to be a rebuttal. With that said, I would have a hard time seeing the team making it this far if Knight was still coaching (because of being too proud to put in key players), but Haston would still have been there too...

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IU shocks the world!

(and screws up 99% of people's brackets. )

*** This post was edited by CPgenius on 3/25/2002. ***

In space, the coasters will probably travel thru worm holes and hyper tunnels, are we'll see a million versions of Black Hole(you know, punny compact coasters in tents.)

I didnt say it has to be on the moon. In my science class we were just talking about gravity. I thought if there was none that it couldnt be moved since the coasters are pulled down the hills, which is gravity.

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"Poison Ivy looks to intense for me!" "I want to go on somethin more thrilling than Superman:Ride of Steel"
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