Brian D. Avery: How rollercoasters affect your body

How rollercoasters affect your body

In 1895, crowds flooded Coney Island to see America's first-ever looping coaster: the Flip Flap Railway. But its thrilling flip caused cases of severe whiplash, neck injury and even ejections. Today, coasters can pull off far more exciting tricks and do it safely. Brian D. Avery investigates what roller coasters are doing to your body and how they've managed to get scarier and safer at the same time. [TED-Ed Animation by Stretch Films Inc].

Roller coasters once caused dangerous injuries, like the 1895 Flip Flap Railway, which exposed riders to up to 12 Gs and frequent blackouts. Today’s coasters dazzle with taller drops and sharper loops, yet rarely send anyone to the hospital. Advances in restraint systems and understanding of G-forces let engineers deliver wild thrills without risking lives. Careful design now balances adrenaline and safety using precise modeling and a deep knowledge of the human body.