What sciences are involved in designing and building roller coasters?

Answer 1

Many sciences are involved. There must be an analysis of the stress that can be withstood repeatedly and over a long period of time by all the materials used in construction, from foundations all the way up to the cushions and harnesses on the seats, and everything else in between. Exacting standards have to be applied to all of the design and engineering of the mechanisms involved, including all safety features, systems to keep the rollers/wheels on the tracks, and so forth. The physics has to be thoroughly understood so that resulting forces will not come close to causing any harm or injury to the passengers (while at the same time giving thrills that are enjoyable to roller coaster fans). The electrical and power systems have to be perfectly understood, tested, safe, reliable and durable. The chemistry involved in all the various kinds of lubrication throughout the system has to be completely understood. For example, all other things could have been designed and assembled to absolute perfection, and then a lubricant that happens to be a solvent for some crucial safety feature is liberally applied. The lubricant was hyped as the most weather-resistant lubricant in the world; no one bothered to learn that it literally dissolves the structures that hold the rollers in place while the carts are upside down.

Environmental planning (yes, this is science) has to be exacting and flawless. What would happen if a huge water ride were too close to the bottom of a roller coaster loop, and the chemicals to treat the water had a corrosive effect on some of the roller coaster's systems over time? Or perhaps it wasn't realized that the roller coaster is dangerously close to and in line with (in the wrong direction) one of the Golf course tee-off's?

The above is only scratching the surface.