View source for Roller coaster

{{Short description|Rail-based amusement park ride}}
{{Other uses}}
[[File:Luna Park Melbourne scenic railway.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The Scenic Railway at [[Luna Park, Melbourne]], is the world's oldest operating roller coaster, built in 1912.]]

A '''roller coaster''' is a type of [[list of amusement rides|amusement ride]] employing a form of elevated [[Railway track|railroad track]] that carries passengers on a [[roller coaster train|train]] through tight turns, steep slopes, and other elements, usually designed to produce a thrilling experience,<ref name="Definition">{{cite web |title=Definition of roller coaster |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roller-coaster |publisher=[[Merriam-Webster]] |access-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806112204/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roller-coaster |archive-date=August 6, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Britannica">{{cite web |last1=Pescovitz |first1=David |title=Roller coaster: Definition, History, & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/roller-coaster |website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |access-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806112548/https://www.britannica.com/topic/roller-coaster |archive-date=August 6, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> though some roller coasters aim to provide a more gentle experience.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Family Coasters mentioned on RCDB |url=https://rcdb.com/g.htm}}</ref> Trains consist of open cars connected in a single line, and the rides are often found in [[theme park]]s around the world. Roller coasters originate from "Russian Mountains" which first appeared in the 17th century. Invented and mostly found in [[Russia]], these were slides made of ice that upper-class Russians would slide down.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History Of The Roller Coaster — The National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives |url=https://rollercoastermuseum.org/blog/history-roller-coaster-2 |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=National Roller Coaster Museum |language=en-US}}</ref> [[LaMarcus Adna Thompson]] obtained one of the first known patents for a roller coaster design in 1885, based on the [[Switchback Railway]] which opened a year earlier at [[Coney Island]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US332762 |title=Gravity switch-back railway; US patent# 332762|access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-roller-coaster-in-america-opens|title=First roller coaster in America opens - Jun 16, 1884 - HISTORY.com|newspaper=HISTORY.com|access-date=2016-12-30}}</ref>

Tracks are typically built and designed as a complete circuit in which trains depart from and return to the same [[Station (roller coaster)|loading station]]. One variation, a [[shuttle roller coaster]], reverses at some point throughout the course of the ride to traverse the same track backwards.

==History==
<!-- This section should be kept compact. Additions go in the main article, linked in the line below.-->
{{Main|History of the roller coaster}}

===The Russian Mountains and the Aerial Promenades===
{{anchor|Russian Mountains}}
{{redirect|Russian Mountains|other uses}}
The oldest roller coasters are believed to have originated from the so-called "Russian Mountains"; specially constructed hills of ice located in the area that is now [[Saint Petersburg|Saint Petersburg, Russia]].<ref>Coker, Robert (2002). ''Roller Coasters: A Thrill Seeker's Guide to the Ultimate Scream Machines''.  New York: Metrobooks.  14.  {{ISBN|9781586631727}}.</ref> Built in the 17th century, the slides were built to a height of between {{convert|70|and|80|ft|m|0}}, had a 50-degree drop, and were reinforced by wooden supports. Later, in 1784, [[Catherine the Great]] is said to have constructed a sledding hill in the gardens of her palace at [[Oranienbaum, Russia|Oranienbaum]] in St. Petersburg.<ref>Bennett, David (1998). ''Roller Coaster: Wooden and Steel Coasters, Twisters and Corkscrews''.  Edison, New Jersey: [[Chartwell Books]]. 9. {{ISBN|9780785808855}}.</ref>

[[File:La Grand Glisade (stitched, hi-res).png|center|thumb|800px|La Grande Glisade, [[Tsarskoye Selo]]]]
The [[Riding Mountain (roller coaster)|Riding Mountain]] (aka ''La Grande Glisade'') entertainment pavilion designed by [[Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli]] for [[Tsarskoye Selo]] royal residence was built in 1754–1757. In Russian it was known as ''Katalnaya gora'' (Катальная гора, literally "Mountain for riding")<ref name=grate/> It was a huge building in the shape of [[rotunda (architecture)|rotunda]]. It had a trail with five hills which can be covered with ice in winter. In the summer time the trails used trolleys on wheels secured in the steel grooves mounted on the wooden trails. Due to a pendulum-like motion based on inertia all five hills could be traversed in one ride.<ref>Agata Pietrzak, [https://www.gdanskstrefa.com/chopin-na-rollercoasterze/ Chopin na rollercoasterze]</ref> The ride was engineered by Russian scientist [[Andrey Nartov]].<ref name=grate>{{Cite web|url=https://tzar.ru/objects/ekaterininskypark/landscape/granite|title=Гранитная терраса &#124; Государственный музей-заповедник «Царское Село»|website=tzar.ru}}</ref> The Anglican clergyman [[John Glen King]] mentioned that some Englishmen visiting Russia called them "Flying Mountains" and described them as follows:
<blockquote>
You will observe that there are five mounts of unequal height: the first and the highest is full {{convert|30|ft|m|spell=in|sigfig=1}} perpendicular altitude; the momentum with which they descend this carries them over the second, which is about {{convert|5|or|6|ft|m|spell=in}} lower, just sufficient to allow for the friction and resistance; and so on to the last, from which they are conveyed by a gentle descent, with nearly same velocity, over a piece of water into a little island. These slides, which are about a [[furlong]] and a half (300&nbsp;m) in length, are made of wood, that may be used in summer as well as in winter. The process is, two of four persons fit in a little carriage and one stands behind, for more there are in it the greater the swiftness with which it goes; it runs on [[caster|castors]] and in grooves to keep it on its right direction, and it descends with a wonderful rapidity. Under the hill, is a machine worked by horses for drawing the carriages back again, with the company in them. Such a work as this would have been enormous in most countries for the labour and expense in cost, as well as the vast quantity of wood used in it. At the same place, there is another artificial mount which goes in a spiral line, and in my opinion, for I have tried it also, is very disagreable; as it seems always leaning on one side, and the person feels in danger of falling out of seat.
<ref>John Glen King, ''A Letter to the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Durham: Containing Some Observations on the Climate of Russia and the Northern Countries, with a View of the Flying Mountains at Zarsko Sello Near St. Petersbourg'', [https://books.google.com/books?id=HHQMxwEACAAJ&pg=PA18 pp. 18,19]</ref>
</blockquote>

''Katalnaya gora'' was dismantled in 1792–1795. Currently in its place is the Granite Terrace in the [[Catherine Park]].<ref name=grate/>

[[File:Montagnes russes de Belleville 3.png|thumb|''Les Montagnes de Belleville'']]
[[File:Promenades Aeriennes Jardin Baujon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The Promenades-Aériennes in [[Paris]], 1817]]
Two roller coasters were built in France in 1817.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-world-s-first-roller-coasters.html|title=The World's First Roller Coasters|date=June 10, 2019|website=WorldAtlas}}</ref> ''Les Montagnes de Belleville'' (''Les Montagnes Russes à Belleville'') in [[Belleville, Paris]] had wheels attached to carriages and locked on tracks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/sister_magazine/docs/en_sistermag29_1/s/123650|title=The Ultimate Thrill|website=Issuu}}</ref>
The ''Promenades Aériennes'', opened in Parc Beaujon in Paris on July 8, 1817<ref>Fierro, Alfred, ''Histoire et Dictionnaire de Paris'' p. 613</ref> had  wheeled cars securely locked to the track, guide rails to keep them on course, and higher speeds.<ref name="Urbanowicz">Urbanowicz, Steven J. (2002). ''The Roller Coaster Lover's Companion;'' Kensington, New YorK: [[Citadel Press]]. {{ISBN|9780806523095}}.</ref> It spawned half a dozen imitators, but their popularity soon declined.

However, during the [[Paris in the Belle Epoque|Belle Epoque]] they returned to fashion. In 1887, Catalan entrepreneur [[Joseph Oller]], co-founder of the [[Moulin Rouge]] music hall, constructed the ''Montagnes Russes de Belleville'', "Russian Mountains of Belleville" with {{convert|656|ft|m}} of track laid out in a double-eight, later enlarged to four figure-eight-shaped loops.<ref>Valérie RANSON-ENGUIALE, " Promenades aériennes ", Histoire par l'image [en ligne], consulté le 26 Mai 2017. URL : http://www.histoire-image.org/etudes/promenades-aeriennes</ref>
[[File:Thompsons Switchback Railway 1884.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|Thompson's [[Switchback Railway]], 1884]]

===Scenic railways===
{{see also|Side friction roller coaster}}
{{distinguish|The Great Scenic Railway|Scenic Railway (Dreamland Margate)}}
In 1827, a mining company in Summit Hill, Pennsylvania constructed the [[Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway]], a downhill [[gravity railroad]] used to deliver coal to Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania – now known as [[Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania|Jim Thorpe]].<ref>[http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/history/start/america.shtml "Roller Coaster History: Early Years In America"]. Retrieved on July 26, 2007.</ref> By the 1850s, the "Gravity Road" (as it became known) was selling rides to thrill seekers. Railway companies used similar tracks to provide amusement on days when ridership was low.

Using this idea as a basis, [[LaMarcus Adna Thompson]] began work on a gravity [[Switchback Railway]] that opened at [[Coney Island]] in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York (State)|New York]], in 1884.<ref>{{cite news | author=Chris Sheedy | title=Icons&nbsp;– In the Beginning... Roller-Coaster | work=[[The Sun-Herald]] Sunday Life (Weekly Supplement) | publisher=John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd. | page=10 | date=2007-01-07}}</ref> Passengers climbed to the top of a platform and rode a bench-like car down the {{convert|600|ft|m|0|adj=on}} track up to the top of another tower where the vehicle was switched to a return track and the passengers took the return trip.<ref name="Rutherford" /> This track design was soon replaced with an oval complete circuit.<ref name="Urbanowicz"/> In 1885, Phillip Hinkle introduced the first full-circuit coaster with a [[lift hill]], the ''Gravity Pleasure Road'', which became the most popular attraction at Coney Island.<ref name="Urbanowicz"/> Not to be outdone, in 1886 Thompson patented his design of roller coaster that included dark tunnels with painted scenery. "Scenic railways" were soon found in [[amusement park]]s across the county.<ref name="Urbanowicz"/>

===Popularity, decline, and revival===
By 1919, the first [[underfriction]] roller coaster had been developed by [[John Miller (entrepreneur)|John Miller]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://patimg2.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=01319888&PageNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=NONE&Input=View+first+page|title=Patent Images|website=patimg2.uspto.gov|access-date=2010-03-25|archive-date=2017-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728194717/http://patimg2.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=01319888&PageNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=NONE&Input=View+first+page|url-status=dead}}</ref> Over the next decade, roller coasters spread to amusement parks around the world and began an era in the industry often referred to as the "Golden Age". One of the most well known from the period is the historical ''[[Coney Island Cyclone|Cyclone]]'' that opened at Coney Island in 1927. The onset of the [[Great Depression]] in the 1930s, however, significantly impacted the amusement park industry and brought an end to the rapid growth experienced during the Golden Age. This aside, roller coasters were still built with varying success from location to location. In May 1932, the Scene Railway witnessed somewhat of a revival in the UK, including the opening of the [[Roller Coaster (Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach)|roller coaster at Great Yarmouth]]. Today it is one of only two scenic railways still in operation in the UK.<ref>[https://riderater.co.uk/9040/east-england-theme-parks-during-covid-19/ East England theme parks during COVID-19]. ''RideRater''. 13 June 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2023.</ref>

In 1959, [[Disneyland]] introduced a design breakthrough with ''[[Matterhorn Bobsleds]]'', the first permanent roller coaster to use a tubular steel track. Designed by [[Arrow Development]], the tubular track was unlike standard rail design on wooden coasters, allowing the track to bend in sharper angles in any direction, leading to the incorporation of loops, corkscrews, and inversion elements into track layouts. A little more than a decade later, the immediate success of ''[[Racer (Kings Island)|The Racer]]'' at [[Kings Island]] in 1972 sparked a new era of roller coaster enthusiasm, which led to a resurgence across the amusement park industry over the next several decades.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}
<!-- Section needs expansion to talk about launching coasters and how the industry generally evolved over the 1990s and 2000s, beginning with Magnum XL-200 in 1989. -->

==Etymology==
[[File:Dorney Park Steel Force Thunderhawk.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|[[Steel Force]] (left) and [[Thunderhawk (Dorney Park)|Thunderhawk]] (right), two roller coasters at [[Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom]] in [[Allentown, Pennsylvania]]. Steel Force is the [[List of roller coaster rankings#Longest steel roller coasters|eighth longest steel roller coaster]] in the world.]]
There are several explanations for the name ''roller coaster''. It is said to have originated from an early American design where slides or ramps were fitted with rollers over which a sled would coast.<ref name="Urbanowicz"/> This design was abandoned in favor of fitting the wheels to the sled or other vehicles, but the name endured.

Another explanation is that the phrase originated from a ride located in a [[Roller rink|roller skating rink]] in [[Haverhill, Massachusetts|Haverhill]], [[Massachusetts]] in 1887. A [[toboggan]]-like sled was raised to the top of a track which consisted of hundreds of rollers. This ''Roller Toboggan'' then took off down gently rolling hills to the floor. The inventors of this ride, Stephen E. Jackman and Byron B. Floyd, claim that they were the first to use the term "roller coaster".<ref name="Rutherford" />

The term ''jet coaster'' is used for roller coasters in Japan, where such amusement park rides are very popular.<ref name=Alvey>Robb and Elissa Alvey. [http://www.themeparkreview.com/japan2004/japan.htm "Theme Park Review: Japan 2004"], ''themeparkreview.com''.  Retrieved on March 18, 2008.</ref>

In many languages, including most [[Romance languages]], the name refers to "Russian mountains". Conversely, in Russian, they are called "Американские горки" (''Amerikanskiye gorki'', "American hills"). In the [[Scandinavian languages]], the roller coaster is referred as "mountain-and-valley railway". German has the word ''Achterbahn'', stemming from ''Figur-8-Bahn'', relating to the form of the number 8 (''acht'' in German). This is similar to the Dutch ''Achtbaan'', in which ''acht'' also means "eight".

==Mechanics==
{{Main|Physics of roller coasters}}

[[File:Helix POV video.webm|thumb|upright=1.2|Video from inside a roller coaster car ([[Helix (roller coaster)|Helix]] at [[Liseberg]] in Gothenburg, Sweden)]]
Roller coaster trains are not typically powered. Most are pulled up a [[lift hill]] by a chain or cable and released downhill. The [[potential energy]] accumulated by the rise in height is transferred to [[kinetic energy]], which is then converted back into potential energy as the train rises up the next hill.<ref name="ut">{{cite web |title=Engineering Thrills: The Science Behind Roller Coasters |date=19 August 2024 |url=https://onlineme.engr.utexas.edu/engineering-thrills-the-science-behind-roller-coasters/ |publisher=[[University of Texas at Austin]]}}</ref> Changes in elevation become smaller throughout the track's course, as some mechanical energy is lost to [[friction]] and [[Drag (physics)|air drag]]. A properly-designed, outdoor track will result in a train having enough kinetic energy to complete the entire course under a variety of stressful weather conditions.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Tom |last1=Harris |first2=Cherise |last2=Threewitt |title=How Roller Coasters Work |url=https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/roller-coaster.htm |date=January 1970}}</ref>

Not all coasters feature a lift hill, however. A train may also be set into motion by a launch mechanism such as a flywheel, [[linear induction motor]], [[linear motor|linear synchronous motor]], hydraulic launch, or drive tire. Some [[launched roller coaster]]s are capable of reaching greater speeds using less track when compared to traditional coasters that rely on a conventional lift hill.

A [[brake run]] at the end of the circuit is the most common method of stopping a roller coaster train as it returns to the station.<ref name="ut"/> One notable exception is a [[Powered coaster|powered roller coaster]], which instead of relying on gravity uses one or more motors to propel the trains along the course.

In 2006, NASA announced that it would build a system using principles similar to those of a roller coaster to help astronauts escape the [[Ares I]] launch pad in an emergency,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=4888 |title=NASA will build Rollercoaster for Ares I escape |access-date=2007-01-08 |author=Chris Bergin|date=November 3, 2006 |publisher=NASA Spaceflight.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061115214126/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=4888 |archive-date=2006-11-15 }}</ref> although this has since been scrapped along with the rest of the [[Ares I-X|Ares program]].

==Safety==
Some sources have shown concern over the ability of roller coasters to cause head trauma and serious injury such as the tearing of axons and damaging of blood vessels.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-15 |title=The link between roller coasters and headaches |url=https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/headache-after-roller-coaster |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Medical News Today |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kuo |first1=Calvin |last2=Wu |first2=Lyndia C. |last3=Ye |first3=Patrick P. |last4=Laksari |first4=Kaveh |last5=Camarillo |first5=David B. |last6=Kuhl |first6=Ellen |title=Pilot Findings of Brain Displacements and Deformations during Roller Coaster Rides |journal=Journal of Neurotrauma |date=2017 |volume=34 |issue=22 |pages=3198–3205 |doi=10.1089/neu.2016.4893 |pmid=28683585 |pmc=6436029 }}</ref>

=== Safety mechanisms and technology ===
A variety of safety mechanisms protect riders on roller coasters. 

==== Block system ====
Most large roller coasters have the ability to run two or more trains at once. 

The block system prevents these trains from colliding. In this system, the track is divided into two or more sections known as blocks. 

* Only one train is permitted in each block at any given time. 
* There is a section of track at the end of each block where a train can be stopped if necessary. 
** Examples include block brakes, the top of a lift hill (that can stop) and the station (train will not dispatch until the next block is clear).
* Sensors detect when a train passes so that the system's computer is aware of which blocks are occupied. If a train attempts to enter an occupied block, the stopping mechanisms in all blocks are engaged.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

==== Seat restraints ====
Seat restraints are used to ensure that riders stay in their seats throughout the ride.

===== Types of restraints =====
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Type of restraint
!Description
!Pros
!Cons
!Sources
|-
|Over-the-shoulder
|Secures riders' torsos using a harness that is pulled down over the rider before the ride starts. 
|
* Can feel more secure for scared riders
|
* Can cause headbanging
* Can remove some airtime
* Can feel cramped or claustrophobic
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Over-the-shoulder harness - Coasterpedia - The Amusement Ride Wiki |url=https://coasterpedia.net/wiki/Over-the-shoulder_harness |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=coasterpedia.net |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|Lap bar
|Secures riders' laps using either a bar that's pulled from in front of riders or pulled down from above like over-the-shoulder restraints
|
* More airtime
* No headbanging
* More open feel
|
* Can feel insecure or exposing for scared riders
* Can cause misconceptions that roller coasters with inversions that use lap bars are dangerous
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lap bar - Coasterpedia - The Amusement Ride Wiki |url=https://coasterpedia.net/wiki/Lap_bar |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=coasterpedia.net}}</ref>
|-
|Vest
|Similar to over-the-shoulder restraints but uses a vest pulled tightly on the rider's torso to secure them
|
* No headbanging
* Less bulky than over the shoulder restraints
|
* Tight
* Can remove airtime
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vest harness - Coasterpedia - The Amusement Ride Wiki |url=https://coasterpedia.net/wiki/Vest_harness |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=coasterpedia.net |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|Seatbelt
|Uses a belt across the rider's waist to secure them, or can be used as a fallback for other restraints
|
* Can be used in conjunction with other restraint types as a fall-back
* Can make scared riders feel more secure when used in conjunction with other restraints
* When used alone is very open and very unrestrictive
|
* Not suitable for most intense rollercoasters
|
|}

===== Restraint locking mechanisms =====
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Locking mechanism
!Description
!Sources
|-
|Hydraulic
|Uses hydraulic piston and fluid to lock restraints.
When the restraint is pulled down, it forces liquid through a one-way valve. This liquid cannot return and thus the restraint stays closed. When the restraints are unlocked by the ride operator, an electrical signal is sent to another valve, which opens, allowing the fluid to return to the start position and letting the restraint rise.
|<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hoebiger |title=Personal restraint hydraulic lock LE |publisher=Hoebiger |year=2017 |location=Alabama |language=English}}</ref>
|-
|Ratcheting
|Uses a toothed gear and pawl to lock restraints. When the restraint is pulled down, the pawl clicks into the next tooth on the gear. The pawl cannot go in the opposite direction. When the restraint is unlocked by the ride operator, an electrical signal is sent to the pawl which moves it out of the way and lets the restraint go back up.
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Griffin Schobel - Rollercoaster Restraint System (2019) |url=https://griffinschobel.com/rollercoaster-restraint-system |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=griffinschobel.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
|}
Restraints use proximity sensors to determine if they are locked. If not all of the restraints are locked, the train cannot leave the station.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Väisänen |first=Antti |title=Design of Roller Coasters |publisher=Aalto University School of Engineering |year=2018 |location=Espoo, Finland |pages=11 |language=English}}</ref>

==== Braking systems ====
Braking systems such as pivoting pawls are used on the bottom of the train and on the inclined lift hill. While the train goes up the lift hill, it is pulled by a chain. The pawl moves over bumps that are separated closely apart. In the event that the train ever becomes disconnected from the chain, the anti roll-back system will engage and it will fall back into the nearest downhill stop preventing the train from falling down the lift hill.<ref>{{Cite patent|number=US5715756A|title=Ride attraction anti-roll back system|gdate=1998-02-10|invent1=Weigand|invent2=Black|invent3=Drobnis|inventor1-first=Frank K.|inventor2-first=Alan|inventor3-first=Nick|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US5715756A/en}}</ref>

==== Programmable logic controller ====
Another key to safety is the [[programmable logic controller]], an essential component of a roller coaster's computer system. Multiple controllers work together to detect faults associated with operation and automate decisions to engage various elements (e.g. lift, brakes, etc.). Periodic maintenance and visual inspection by ride engineers are also important to verify that structures and materials are within expected wear tolerances and functioning correctly. Effective operating procedures further enhance safety.<ref>[https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg175.htm Fairgrounds and amusement parks: Guidance on safe practice]. ''Health and Safety Executive''. November 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2023.</ref>

=== Roller coaster design and statistics ===
Roller coaster design is another important aspect that requires a working knowledge of [[Kinematics|basic physics]] to enhance ride comfort and avoid harmful strain to the rider. Ride designers must carefully analyze the movement a ride subjects its riders to, ensuring it is within a reasonable tolerance. The human body needs sufficient time to react to sudden changes in force in order to control muscle tension and avoid harmful consequences such as [[Whiplash (medicine)|whiplash]]. Designers typically stay in the range of {{cvt|4|to|6|g-force|sigfig=1}} as a maximum for positive g-force acceleration, which increases the feeling of weight and pushes riders downward into their seat. For negative g-force, or the feeling of weightlessness, the target is {{cvt|1.5|to|2|g-force}} as a maximum. These fall into a range considered safe to a majority of the population. Lateral acceleration is also typically kept under {{cvt|2|g-force}} using various techniques including the banking of curves.<ref>{{Cite news |title=CoasterForce |url=https://coasterforce.com/physics/ |access-date=9 May 2022 |website=CoasterForce}}</ref>

Wheels are a critical part in rollercoaster design. The purpose of wheels is to keep the train on the track and to prevent it from flying off. A majority of roller coaster wheels are made from polyurethane. There are three kinds of roller coaster wheels which include road wheels, side friction wheels, and up-stop wheels. Road wheels ride on top of the track. Side friction wheels ride on the side of the track to keep the train on the track throughout turns. Up-stop wheels ride below the track and prevent the train from lifting off the track.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hunt |first=Kristen |title=Design Analysis of Roller Coasters |publisher=Worcester Polytechnic Institute |date=May 2018 |location=Worcester, MA |pages=11 |language=English}}</ref>

Roller coasters are statistically very safe when compared to other activities, but despite all the safety measures in place, [[Amusement park accidents|accidents]] still occur. The [[International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions]] (IAAPA) reports that a rider has one chance in 15.5 million of being injured on a ride. Also, "In a typical year, more than 385 million guests enjoyed in excess of 1.7 billion rides at approximately 400 North American fixed-site facilities". IAAPA is required to report annual ride incidents to the National Safety Council.<ref>{{Cite news |last=National Safety Council |date=August 2021 |title=North America Fixed-Site Amusement Ride Injury Survey, 2020 Update |pages=1–14 |work=International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Orlando, FL}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Amusement Ride Safety {{!}} IAAPA |url=https://www.iaapa.org/safety-security/amusement-ride-safety |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=www.iaapa.org |language=en}}</ref>

==Types==
{{See also|Roller coaster elements}}
[[File:Nokkakivi - Cyclon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Cyclon roller coaster in the [[Nokkakivi]] amusement park in [[Laukaa]], [[Finland]]]]
Roller coasters are divided into two main categories: [[steel roller coaster]]s and [[wooden roller coaster]]s. Steel coasters have tubular steel tracks, and compared to wooden coasters, they are typically known for offering a smoother ride and their ability to turn riders upside-down. Wooden coasters have flat steel tracks, and are typically renowned for producing "air time" through the use of negative g-forces when reaching the crest of some hill elements. Newer types of track, such as I-Box and Topper introduced by [[Rocky Mountain Construction]] (RMC), improve the ride experience on wooden coasters, lower maintenance costs, and add the ability to invert riders.

[[File:Thunder Dolphin - roller coaster - Oct 15 2021.ogg|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Thunder Dolphin]], a [[steel roller coaster]] in [[Tokyo]], at dusk]]
A third classification type is often referred to as a [[hybrid roller coaster]], which use a mixture of wood and steel elements for the track and structure. Many, for example, have a track made out of steel and a support structure made from wood.<ref name="Weisenberger">{{cite book |page=18 |title=Coasters 101: An Engineer's Guide to Roller Coaster Design |first1=Nick |last1=Weisenberger |edition=1st |location=United States |isbn=9781468013559 | year=2012 |type=Paperback |publisher=[[CreateSpace|Createspace Independent Publishing]]|language=English}}</ref><ref name="Throgmorton">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WKIfDAAAQBAJ&dq=hybrid+roller+coaster&pg=PA49 |pages=21, 49, 116, 223, 231 |edition=4th |title=Coasters: United States and Canada |first1=Todd H. |last1=Throgmorton |first2=Samantha K. |last2=Throgmorton |isbn=9781476622118 |date=April 30, 2016 |format=E-book |publisher=[[McFarland & Company|McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers]] |language=English}}</ref><ref name="Hybrid-TripSavvy">{{Cite web|title=What Is a Hybrid Wooden and Steel Roller Coaster?|url=https://www.tripsavvy.com/what-is-a-hybrid-roller-coaster-3226485|access-date=2021-04-26|website=TripSavvy|language=en}}</ref> RMC has notably redesigned wood coasters that have either deteriorated from age or been deemed by parks as too costly to maintain.<ref name="Hybrid-TripSavvy" /><ref name="Hybrid-CoasterCritic">{{Cite web|title=What Is A Hybrid Roller Coaster?|url=http://coastercritic.com/2018/03/hybrid-roller-coaster/|access-date=2021-04-26|website=coastercritic.com|date=29 October 2019 }}</ref> RMC often replaces the wood track with their patented steel I-Box track design, while reusing much of the ride's wooden structure, resulting in a smoother ride with the incorporation of new design elements, such as inversions, sharper turns, and steeper drops.<ref name="Hybrid-CoasterCritic" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-05-04|title=State of the Arts: A New Kind of Wooden Coaster Twists and Turns at Cedar Point|url=https://www.wksu.org/arts-culture/2018-05-04/state-of-the-arts-a-new-kind-of-wooden-coaster-twists-and-turns-at-cedar-point|access-date=2021-04-26|publisher=[[WKSU]]|language=en}}</ref>

Although the term wasn't widely used or accepted until the 21st century, one of the oldest examples is [[Coney Island Cyclone|Cyclone]] at [[Luna Park (Coney Island, 2010)|Luna Park]], which opened in 1927.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cyclone - Luna Park (Brooklyn, New York, United States)|url=https://rcdb.com/222.htm|access-date=2021-04-26|website=rcdb.com}}</ref> It features a wood track and steel structure.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Cyclone|url=http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1636.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223171706/http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1636.pdf|archive-date=2016-12-23|website=nyc.gov}}</ref> Other older examples include [[mine train roller coaster]]s, many of which were built by [[Arrow Dynamics]].<ref name="Arrow-CoasterForce">{{Cite web|title=Arrow Dynamics - Coasterforce|url=https://coasterforce.com/arrow/|website=Coasterforce|date=17 October 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Roller Coaster Search Results|url=https://rcdb.com/r.htm?order=-8&ot=2&mo=8299|access-date=2021-04-27|website=rcdb.com}}</ref> The term ''hybrid'' became more prominent after the introduction of [[New Texas Giant]] at [[Six Flags Over Texas]] in 2011.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Roller Coaster Search Results|url=https://rcdb.com/r.htm?order=1&ot=2&ca=219|access-date=2021-04-28|website=rcdb.com}}</ref> Many in the industry, however, continue to classify coasters strictly by their track type only, labeling them either steel or wood.<ref name="Weisenberger"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=New Texas Giant Roller Coaster|url=https://guidetosfot.com/rides/newtexasgiant/|access-date=2021-04-28|website=Guide to Six Flags over Texas|language=en-US}}</ref>

Modern roller coasters are constantly evolving to provide a variety of different experiences. More focus is being placed on the position of riders in relation to the overall experience. Traditionally, riders sit facing forward, but newer variations such as [[stand-up roller coaster|stand-up]] and [[Flying roller coaster|flying]] models position the rider in different ways to change the experiences. A flying model, for example, places riders lying down and facing forward with their chests and feet strapped in. Other ways of enhancing the experience involve removing the floor beneath passengers riding above the track, as featured in [[floorless roller coaster]]s. Unique track elements, such as new inversions, are often introduced to provide entirely new experiences.

{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}

===By train type===
* [[Bobsled roller coaster|Bobsled]]
** [[Flying Turns]]
* [[Floorless roller coaster|Floorless]]
* [[Flying roller coaster|Flying]]
* [[Fourth-dimension roller coaster|Fourth-dimension]]
* [[Inverted roller coaster|Inverted]]
* [[Mine train roller coaster|Mine train]]
* [[Motorbike roller coaster|Motorbike]]
* [[Summer toboggan|Mountain/Alpine coaster]]
* [[Pipeline roller coaster|Pipeline]]
* [[Side friction roller coaster|Side friction]]
* [[Single-rail roller coaster|Single-rail]]
* [[Spinning roller coaster|Spinning]]
** [[Virginia Reel roller coaster|Virginia Reel]]
* [[Stand-up roller coaster|Stand-up]]
* [[Steeplechase roller coaster|Steeplechase]]
* [[Suspended roller coaster|Suspended]]
* [[Water coaster (roller coaster)|Water coaster]]
* [[Wing Coaster|Wing]]
* [[Wild mouse]]
{{col-3}}

===By model===
* [[Accelerator Coaster]]
* [[Boomerang (roller coaster)|Boomerang]]
* [[Dive Coaster]]
* [[El Loco (roller coaster)|El Loco]]
* [[Galaxi]]
* [[Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter|Euro-Fighter]]
* [[Giant Inverted Boomerang]]
* [[Impulse roller coaster|Impulse]]
* [[Infinity Coaster]]
* [[Invertigo (roller coaster)|Invertigo]]
* [[Launched Loop (Arrow Dynamics)|Launched Loop]]
* [[Polercoaster]]
* [[SFX Coaster]]
* [[Shuttle Loop]]
* [[Sky Rocket II]]
* [[SkyLoop]]
* [[Suspended Family Coaster]]
* [[Suspended Looping Coaster]]
* [[Thrust Air 2000]]
* [[Toboggan (roller coaster)|Toboggan]]
* [[Vekoma Junior Coaster]]
{{col-3}}

===By track layout===
* [[Dual-tracked roller coaster|Dual-tracked]]
* [[Figure 8 roller coaster|Figure 8]]
* [[Out and back roller coaster|Out and back]]
* [[Shuttle roller coaster|Shuttle]]
* [[Terrain roller coaster|Terrain]]
* [[Twister roller coaster|Twister]]
* [[Wild mouse]]

===By mechanics===
* [[Lift hill]]
* [[Launched roller coaster|Launched]]
* [[Powered roller coaster|Powered]]
{{col-end}}

===By height===
<!-- This heading name is linked by other articles -->{{See also|List of roller coaster rankings}}[[File:Kingdom Coaster 002.JPG|thumb|upright=1.2|'''Family coaster:''' [[Kingdom Coaster]] at [[Dutch Wonderland]] in [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania]], is a {{convert|55|ft|m|abbr=out|adj=mid|tall}} coaster that reaches a top speed of {{convert|40|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}]]
[[File:Nitro coaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|'''Mega/Hyper coaster:''' [[Nitro (Six Flags Great Adventure)|Nitro]] at [[Six Flags Great Adventure]], a [[Bolliger & Mabillard]] out and back coaster]]
[[File:Kingda Ka tower.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|'''Strata coaster:''' Once the tallest coaster in the world, the {{convert|456|ft|m|abbr=out|adj=mid|tall}} [[Kingda Ka]] at [[Six Flags Great Adventure]] closed in 2024.]]
Several height classifications have been used by parks and manufacturers in marketing their roller coasters, as well as enthusiasts within the industry. One classification, the '''kiddie coaster''', is a roller coaster specifically designed for younger riders. Following World War II, parks began pushing for more of them to be built in contrast to the height and age restrictions of standard designs at the time. Companies like Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC) developed scaled-down versions of their larger models to accommodate the demand. These typically featured lift hills smaller than {{convert|25|ft}}, and still do today. The rise of kiddie coasters soon led to the development of "junior" models that had lift hills up to {{convert|45|ft}}. A notable example of a junior coaster is the [[Sea Dragon (roller coaster)|Sea Dragon]] – the oldest operating roller coaster from PTC's legendary designer John Allen – which opened at [[Rides At Adventure Cove|Wyandot Lake]] in 1956 near Powell, Ohio.<ref name="Rutherford">{{cite book|last=Rutherford|first=Scott|title=The American Roller Coaster|year=2004|publisher=MBI |isbn=0760319294}}</ref>

====Hypercoaster====
{{for|a list of hypercoasters|Hypercoaster#List of hypercoasters}}
A [[hypercoaster]], occasionally stylized as hyper coaster, is a type of roller coaster with a height or drop of at least {{convert|200|ft}}. [[Moonsault Scramble]], which debuted at [[Fuji-Q Highland]] in 1984, was the first to break this barrier, though the term ''hypercoaster'' was first coined by Cedar Point and [[Arrow Dynamics]] with the opening of [[Magnum XL-200]] in 1989.<ref name="Moonsault-NYDailyNews">{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-08-06/features/8902240513_1_roller-coaster-renaissance-american-coaster-enthusiasts-looping-coaster|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816102835/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-08-06/features/8902240513_1_roller-coaster-renaissance-american-coaster-enthusiasts-looping-coaster|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 16, 2017|title=A Rolling Revival|last=Meskil|first=Paul|date=August 6, 1989|work=New York Daily News|access-date=August 16, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Magnum-ACE">{{cite web|url=http://www.aceonline.org/CoasterAwards/details.aspx?id=44|title=Coaster Landmark Award: Magnum XL-200|publisher=American Coaster Enthusiasts|access-date=August 16, 2017}}</ref> Hypercoasters have become one of the most predominant types of roller coasters in the world, now led by manufacturers [[Bolliger & Mabillard]] and [[Intamin]].

====Giga coaster====
A giga coaster is a type of roller coaster with a height or drop of at least {{convert|300|ft}}.<ref name="Giga - NY Times">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/08/17/travel/17Coasters.html|title=Just How Tall Can Roller Coasters Get?|last=Murphy|first=Mekado|date=August 17, 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=May 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150817161511/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/08/17/travel/17Coasters.html?_r=0 |archive-date=August 17, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The term was coined during the construction of the  [[Millennium Force]], a roller coaster built by [[Intamin]] on [[Cedar Point]] amusement park.<ref name="Giga coinage">{{cite web|url=https://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/news/archives/march00/stories/030900_02.shtml|title=310-Foot-Tall "Giga-Coaster" Nears End of Construction|date=March 9, 2000|work=UltimateRollercoaster.com|access-date=May 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cedarpoint.com/play/rides/millennium-force|title=Millennium Force|publisher=Cedar Point|access-date=May 3, 2018}}</ref> Although [[D. H. Morgan Manufacturing|Morgan]] and [[Bolliger & Mabillard]] have not used the term ''giga'',<ref>{{cite web |title = Bolliger & Mabillard – Products |access-date = 13 February 2012 |url = http://www.bolliger-mabillard.com/products/products_en.aspx |archive-date = 21 June 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120621013654/http://www.bolliger-mabillard.com/products/products_en.aspx |url-status = dead }}</ref> both have also produced roller coasters in this class.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Park !! Manufacturer !! Status !! Opened !! Height !! Drop !! Ref
|-
| [[Millennium Force]] || [[Cedar Point]] || [[Intamin]] || {{Yes|Operating}} || May 13, 2000 || {{convert|310|ft|m}} || {{convert|300|ft|m}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/594.htm|title=Millennium Force-Cedar Point|website=rcdb.com}}</ref>
|-
| [[Steel Dragon 2000]] || [[Nagashima Spa Land]] || [[D. H. Morgan Manufacturing|Morgan]] || {{Yes|Operating}} || August 1, 2000 || {{convert|318.2|ft|m}} || {{convert|306.8|ft|m}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/1173.htm|title=Steel Dragon 2000-Nagashima Spa Land|website=rcdb.com}}</ref>
|-
| [[Pantherian]] || [[Kings Dominion]] || [[Intamin]] || {{Yes|Operating}} || April 2, 2010 || {{convert|305|ft|m}} || {{convert|300|ft|m}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/4520.htm|title=Pantherian-Kings Dominion|website=rcdb.com}}</ref>
|-
| | [[Leviathan (Canada's Wonderland)|Leviathan]] || [[Canada's Wonderland]] || [[Bolliger & Mabillard]] || {{Yes|Operating}} || May 6, 2012 || {{convert|306|ft|m}} ||{{convert|306|ft|m}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/10108.htm|title=Leviathan-Canada's Wonderland|website=rcdb.com}}</ref>
|-
| [[Fury 325]] || [[Carowinds]] || [[Bolliger & Mabillard]] || {{Yes|Operating}} || March 25, 2015 || {{convert|325|ft|m}} || {{convert|320|ft|m}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/12273.htm|title=Fury 325-Carowinds|website=rcdb.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=August 10, 2023 |title=Carowinds reopens Fury 325 rollercoaster, closed for over a month |url=https://www.wral.com/story/carowinds-reopens-fury-325-rollercoaster-closed-for-over-a-month/20994593/ |access-date=August 10, 2023 |publisher=WRAL |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[Red Force (roller coaster)|Red Force]] || [[PortAventura World#Ferrari Land|Ferrari Land]] || [[Intamin]] || {{Yes|Operating}} || April 7, 2017 || {{convert|367|ft|m}} || N/A || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/10698.htm|title=Red Force-Ferrari Land|website=rcdb.com}}</ref>
|-
| [[Orion (roller coaster)|Orion]] || [[Kings Island]] || [[Bolliger & Mabillard]] || {{Yes|Operating}} || July 2, 2020 || {{convert|287|ft|m}} || {{convert|300|ft|m}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/11437.htm|title=Orion-Kings Island|website=rcdb.com}}</ref>
|}

====Strata coaster====
A strata coaster is a type of roller coaster with a height or drop of at least {{convert|400|ft}}. As with the other two height classifications, the term ''strata'' was first introduced by Cedar Point with the release of Top Thrill Dragster, a {{convert|420|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} roller coaster that opened in 2003.<ref name="Strata coaster - Guinness">{{cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2016/8/national-roller-coaster-day-10-incredible-coaster-records-for-every-thrill-seeke-439990|title=National Roller Coaster Day: Ten incredible records for every thrill seeker|date=August 16, 2016|work=guinnessworldrecords.com|access-date=May 3, 2018}}</ref> [[Kingda Ka]] was the second strata coaster, and it opened at [[Six Flags Great Adventure]] in 2005 as the tallest roller coaster in the world with a height of {{convert|456|ft}}. Top Thrill Dragster closed in 2021 following an incident in which a guest was severely injured while standing in line.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-15 |title=Settlement reached after Michigan woman hurt in 2021 Top Thrill Dragster accident at Cedar Point: Read a statement from the park |url=https://www.wkyc.com/article/entertainment/places/cedar-point/cedar-point-top-thrill-dragster-lawsuit-settlement-rachel-hawes-accident/95-95e47ae0-2ec1-4a42-9937-efabe259225e |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=wkyc.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The ride was subsequently refurbished and modified, and it reopened in 2024 as [[Top Thrill 2]].<ref name="TT2">{{cite news |last1=Glaser |first1=Susan |title=Cedar Point's Top Thrill 2 will replace Top Thrill Dragster coaster, with second 420-foot tower and 120 mph top speed |url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2023/08/cedar-point-announces-top-thrill-2-will-replace-top-thrill-dragster-coaster-with-second-420-foot-tower-and-120-mph-top-speed.html |access-date=August 10, 2023 |publisher=Cleveland.com |date=August 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801164749/https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2023/08/cedar-point-announces-top-thrill-2-will-replace-top-thrill-dragster-coaster-with-second-420-foot-tower-and-120-mph-top-speed.html |archive-date=August 1, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> Kingda Ka closed on November 10, 2024.

[[Superman: Escape From Krypton]], a {{convert|415|ft|m|adj=on}} coaster, operated at [[Six Flags Magic Mountain]] from 1997 to 2024. It was not typically classified as a strata coaster due to its [[shuttle roller coaster|shuttle coaster]] design, where trains do not travel a complete circuit.<ref name="Strata coaster - Guinness" /><ref name="Full-circuit limitation - USA Today">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2015/03/06/new-roller-coaster/24506031/|title=Watch the plunge from this new 325-foot roller coaster|date=March 6, 2015|work=USA Today|access-date=May 3, 2018}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Park !! Manufacturer !! Status !! Opened !! Modified !! Height !! Ref
|-
| [[Top Thrill 2]] || [[Cedar Point]] || [[Intamin]] and [[Zamperla]]{{efn|name="ZamperlaIntamin"|Originally built in 2003 by Intamin and later renovated by Zamperla in 2024.}} || {{Yes|Operating}} || May 4, 2003 || May 4, 2024 || {{convert|420|ft|m}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/1896.htm|title=Top Thrill 2-Cedar Point|website=rcdb.com}}</ref>
|-
| [[Kingda Ka]] || [[Six Flags Great Adventure]] || [[Intamin]] || {{No|Removed}} || May 21, 2005 || {{N/A}} || {{convert|456|ft|m}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/2832.htm|title=Kingda Ka-Six Flags Great Adventure|website=rcdb.com}}</ref>
|}

====Exa coaster====
An exa coaster is a type of roller coaster with a height or drop of at least {{convert|600|ft}}.<ref name="Exa Coaster - New York Post">{{cite news |last1=Cost |first1=Ben |title=Six Flags unveils world's tallest, fastest roller coaster that sends riders speeding 150 mph off a 600-foot cliff |url=https://nypost.com/2023/11/17/lifestyle/six-flags-unveils-worlds-tallest-fastest-rollercoaster-that-sends-riders-off-a-cliff/ |access-date=11 December 2023 |publisher=New York Post |date=17 November 2023}}</ref> The term ''exa'' was first introduced by Intamin for Falcons Flight, a {{convert|640|ft|m|adj=on}} coaster expected to open at [[Qiddiya|Six Flags Qiddiya]] in 2025.<ref name="Exa Coaster - Fact">{{cite web |last1=Anwar |first1=Shaheera |title=Six Flags Qiddiya eyes a 2025 opening |url=https://www.factmagazines.com/news/six-flags-qiddiya-eyes-an-october-2024-opening |website=Fact Magazines |access-date=11 December 2023}}</ref><ref name="Exa Coaster - Interesting Engineering">{{cite news |last1=Malayil |first1=Jijo |title=World's tallest, longest & fastest rollercoaster to debut in Saudi Arabia |url=https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/worlds-tallest-longest-fastest-rollercoaster-to-debut-in-saudi-arabia |access-date=11 December 2023 |publisher=Interesting Engineering |date=20 November 2023}}</ref> Upon completion, it will be the tallest roller coaster in the world, surpassing the previous record once held by the now-defunct [[Kingda Ka]].<ref name="Exa Coaster - Coaster101">{{cite news |last1=Stilwell |first1=Andrew |title=Intamin Reveals Falcon's Flight Details |url=https://www.coaster101.com/2023/11/14/intamin-reveals-falcons-flight-details/ |access-date=11 December 2023 |publisher=Coaster101 |date=14 November 2023}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Park !! Manufacturer !! Status !! Opening !! Height !! Ref
|-
| [[Falcons Flight]] || [[Six Flags Qiddiya]] || [[Intamin]] || {{Maybe|Under Construction}} || 2025 || {{convert|640|ft|m}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/21315.htm|title=Falcons Flight-Six Flags Qiddiya City|website=rcdb.com}}</ref>
|}

==Major roller coaster manufacturers==
{{div col|colwidth=27em}}
* [[Allan Herschell Company]] (defunct, merged with Chance Rides)
* [[Arrow Development]] (acquired by Huss Trading Corporation, formed into Arrow-Huss)
* [[Arrow Dynamics]] (defunct, assets bought by [[S&S Arrow]])
* ART Engineering
* [[HUSS Park Attractions|Arrow-Huss]] (defunct, reformed as Arrow Dynamics)
* [[B.A. Schiff & Associates]]
* [[Bolliger & Mabillard]]
* {{interlanguage link|Bradley and Kaye (defunct)|fr|Bradley and Kaye|nl|Bradley & Kaye}}
* [[Chance Morgan]]
* [[Chance Rides]]
* [[Custom Coasters International]] (defunct)
* [[D. H. Morgan Manufacturing]] (acquired by Michael Chance, formed into Chance Morgan)
* [[Dinn Corporation]] (defunct)
* [[Dynamic Structures]]
* [[E&F Miler Industries]]
* [[Fabbri Group]]
* [[Gerstlauer]]
* [[Giovanola]] (defunct)
* [[The Gravity Group]]
* [[Great Coasters International]]
* [[Hopkins Rides]]
* [[Intamin]]
* [[Mack Rides]]
* [[Maurer AG]]
* [[Martin & Vleminckx]]
* [[Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters]]
* [[Pinfari]] (defunct)
* [[Premier Rides]]
* [[Preston & Barbieri]]
* [[Reverchon Industries]] (defunct)
* [[Rocky Mountain Construction]]
* [[Roller Coaster Corporation of America]] (defunct)
* [[Sansei Technologies]]
* [[S&S - Sansei Technologies]] (formerly known as S&S Worldwide)
* [[SBF Visa Group]]
* [[Anton Schwarzkopf|Schwarzkopf]] (defunct)
* [[TOGO]] (defunct)
* [[Vekoma]]
* [[Zamperla]]
* [[Zierer]]
{{div col end}}
{{clear}}

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="100" heights="100" class="center" caption="Roller Coasters">
File:Särkänniemi - Tornado.jpg|[[Tornado (Särkänniemi)|Tornado]], located at [[Särkänniemi]] in [[Tampere]], [[Pirkanmaa]], Finland
File:PKDHypersonicDrop.jpg|[[Hypersonic XLC]], the world's first production [[Thrust Air 2000]] (now defunct)
File:Top Thrill Dragster (Cedar Point) 01.jpg|[[Top Thrill Dragster]] at [[Cedar Point]] was the first strata coaster ever built.
File:Rollercoaster expedition geforce holiday park germany.jpg|Riding [[Expedition GeForce]] at [[Holiday Park, Germany|Holiday Park]], Germany
File:Cedar point raptor1.jpg|[[Raptor (Cedar Point)|Raptor]], a steel inverted coaster, is located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, United States.
File:Wooden roller coaster txgi.jpg|[[Texas Giant]] at [[Six Flags Over Texas]] before being refurbished into a hybrid steel-wood coaster [[New Texas Giant]].
File:Image-Lightning Racer at Hersheypark station.jpg|Lightning Racer at Hersheypark is a racing, dueling roller coaster made by [[Great Coasters International|GCI]].
File:Linnanrollerc.JPG|This all-wooden roller coaster, built in 1951, dominates the [[Linnanmäki]] amusement park in Helsinki, Finland.
File:Coney Island 2010 109.JPG|[[Coney Island Cyclone]] in Brooklyn, New York was built in 1927 and refurbished in 1975.
File:PKI-Son of Beast.jpg|[[Son of Beast]] in [[Kings Island]] was the only wooden coaster to have a vertical loop.
File:Kennywood Jack Rabbit DSCN2786.JPG|[[Jack Rabbit (Kennywood)|Jack Rabbit]] at [[Kennywood Park]] outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States was built in 1920.
File:Knoebels Phoenix.JPG|[[Phoenix (roller coaster)|Phoenix]], built in 1947, at [[Knoebels Amusement Resort]] in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, United States.
File:Baron 1889.jpg|[[Baron 1898]] at [[Efteling]] in Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands
File:Griffon (Busch Gardens Europe) 02.JPG|[[Griffon (roller coaster)|Griffon]] splashing down into a pool at [[Busch Gardens Williamsburg]], US.
File:Great Bear Helix.jpg|[[Great Bear (roller coaster)|Great Bear]] is the first steel inverted coaster in Pennsylvania, located at Hersheypark.
File:Behemoth (Canada's Wonderland) 06.jpg|[[Behemoth (roller coaster)|Behemoth]], at [[Canada's Wonderland]], at one point the highest and fastest coaster in Canada
File:Busch Gardens Tampa Bay - Montu.jpg|"[[Montu (roller coaster)|Montu]]", a popular [[inverted roller coaster]] at [[Busch Gardens Tampa Bay]], US
File:Millennium Force (Cedar Point) 06.JPG|[[Millennium Force]] at [[Cedar Point]]
File:Black mamba first drop.jpg|[[Black Mamba (roller coaster)|Black Mamba]] at [[Phantasialand]], Germany
File:Euromir.jpg|[[Euro-Mir]], a spinning roller coaster at [[Europa-Park]] in Rust, Germany
File:Rollercoaster dragon khan universal port aventura spain.jpg|[[Dragon Khan]] at [[PortAventura Park]] in Salou (Tarragona), Spain
File:Kennywood Thunderbolt DSCN2744.JPG|Thunderbolt at [[Kennywood]] outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US was built in 1968.
File:Leviathan Reactions.jpg|[[Leviathan (Canada's Wonderland)|Leviathan]] at [[Canada's Wonderland]], the tallest coaster in Canada ({{convert|306|ft|abbr=on|disp=or|order=flip}}, {{convert|148|km/h|mph|abbr=on|disp=or}})
File:Kingda Ka.jpg|[[Kingda Ka]] at [[Six Flags Great Adventure]] was the world's tallest roller coaster and was the second strata coaster in the world after [[Top Thrill Dragster]].
File:Ee-train.jpg|[[Expedition Everest]], a roller coaster at [[Disney's Animal Kingdom]] in [[Walt Disney World]]
File:Porcijunkulovo, Čakovec, 2017. - vlak smrti.jpg|A small roller coaster at a local festival in [[Čakovec]], [[Croatia]]
File:Hyperion, Energylandia - 2018 Aug 06.jpg|[[Hyperion (roller coaster)|Hyperion]] at [[Energylandia]] in [[Zator, Lesser Poland Voivodeship]], Poland
File:Carowinds-Fury325Entry.JPG|[[Fury 325]] at [[Carowinds]] is the tallest roller coaster to use a traditional chain lift.
File:Superman Ultimate Flight (Six Flags Great Adventure).jpg|alt=Superman The Ride|[[Superman: Ultimate Flight]] at [[Six Flags Great Adventure]]
File:Revere Beach Cyclone Postcard Crop.JPG|alt=|[[Cyclone (Revere Beach)|The Cyclone]], Revere Beach, Massachusetts, USA
</gallery>

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Amusement park]] ([[Lists of amusement parks]])
* [[Amusement rides on the National Register of Historic Places]]
* [[Fear of roller coasters]]
* [[List of roller coaster elements]]
* [[List of roller coaster rankings]]
* [[List of theme park management video games]]
* [[Roller coaster train]]
* [[Ron Toomer]]
{{div col end}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* Bennett, David (1998). ''Roller Coaster: Wooden and Steel Coasters, Twisters and Corkscrews''.  Edison, New Jersey: [[Chartwell Books]]. 9. {{ISBN|9780786508853}}.
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eeyoCJBUiAsC&q=Hybrid+roller+coaster |page=40 |title=Rollercoaster Tycoon |first1=Matthew K. |last1=Brady|first2=David Alan |last2=Knight |year=2001 |isbn=9780761537656|type=Paperback |publisher=[[Prima Games]] |language=English}}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qtyoe7tlkVcC&q=Hybrid+roller+coaster  |title=The Incredible Scream Machine: A History of the Roller Coaster |first1=Robert |last1=Cartmell |year=1987 |isbn=9780879723422|type=Paperback |publisher=Amusement Park Books |language=English}}
* Coker, Robert (2002). ''Roller Coasters: A Thrill Seeker's Guide to the Ultimate Scream Machines''.  New York: Metrobooks.  14.  {{ISBN|9781586631727}}.
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T1H_lzFYRngC&q=Hybrid+roller+coaster  |title=Ohio's Amusement Parks in Vintage Postcards |first1=David W. |last1=Francis|first2=Diane DeMali |last2=Francis |year=2002 |isbn=9780738519975 |type=Paperback |publisher=[[Arcadia Publishing]] |language=English}}
* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3LFl80xGY8sC&dq=%22Russian+Mountain%22+roller+coaster&pg=PA82 |title=Night+Day Mexico City - Pedro Romero |isbn=9780977624560 |access-date=2013-07-26|last1=Romero |first1=Pedro |year=2007 |publisher=ASDavis Media }}
* {{cite book |title=The American Roller Coaster |first1=Scott |last1=Rutherford |year=2004 |isbn=9780760319291 |type=Paperback |publisher=[[Motorbooks International]] |language=English}}
* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vnf_0IVt1GgC&dq=Russian+Mountains+roller+coaster&pg=PA182|title=Russia and Europe in the Nineteenth Century - Edward Strachan, Roy Bolton|isbn=9781907200021|access-date=2013-07-26|last1=Sphinx Fine Art|last2=Strachan|first2=Edward|last3=Bolton|first3=Roy|year=2008|publisher=Sphinx Fine Art }}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=06ifSJMnStQC&q=Hybrid+roller+coaster |title=The Roller Coaster Lover's Companion: A Thrill Seeker's Guide to the World's Best Coasters
|first1=Steven J. |last1=Urbanowicz |date=2002 |isbn=9780806523095 |type=Paperback |publisher=[[Kensington Publishing Corporation]], [[Citadel Press]]|language=English}} {{ISBN|9780806523095}}
* {{cite book |title=The 50 Most Terrifying Roller Coasters Ever Built |first1=Nick |last1=Weisenberger |isbn=9781500699963|date=September 2, 2014 |type=Paperback |publisher=Createspace Independent Publishing |language=English}}

==External links==
<!--PLEASE REVIEW http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:EL FOR GUIDELINES USED IN THIS SECTION. Sites that do not meet these guidelines will be removed. -->
{{Sister project links}}
* [http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/glossary/ Roller Coaster Glossary]
* [http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/history/ Roller Coaster History] – History of the roller coaster
* [http://rcdb.com/ Roller Coaster Database] – Information, statistics and photos for over 3700 roller coasters throughout the world
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140508030244/http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/v/a/vac3/table.html Roller Coaster Patents] – With links to the U.S. Patent office
* [http://vip.vast.org/BOOK/HOME.HTM Roller Coaster Physics] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316000956/http://vip.vast.org/BOOK/HOME.HTM |date=2016-03-16 }}) – Classic physics explained in terms of roller coasters
* [http://science.howstuffworks.com/roller-coaster.htm How Roller Coasters Work]
* [http://www.excelunusual.com/a-2d-animated-excel-roller-coaster-video-preview/ 3D Animated Roller Coaster in MS Excel]
* [http://ktla.com/2014/08/28/magic-mountain-announces-twisted-plans-for-iconic-colossus-roller-coaster/ Magic Mountain Announces 'Twisted' Plans for Iconic Colossus Roller Coaster]
* [http://www.rollercoastermuseum.org/collection/ National Roller Coaster Museum & Archives] – Collection of historic ride vehicles
<!-- Please review http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:EL before adding links -->

{{Roller coaster}}
{{Rollercoaster tracks}}
{{Roller coaster manufacturers}}
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[[Category:Roller coasters| ]]
[[Category:17th-century introductions]]
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[[Category:Russian inventions]]
[[Category:French inventions]]