TTD03 wrote:
So... Do coasters hydroplane? Could it cause coasters to derail and fly off the track if it was at a high enough speed?
Also, could you theoretically have on a ride like dragster, hydroplane on the top wheels, the bottom wheels, the left side wheels, and the right side wheels, and then technically, have the train "float" and then it could possibly derail then?
This just occurred to me and wondered if anyone knew the answer!
Thanks!
yes a coaster can hydroplane (wooden coasters, I-beam tracked steel coasters), no it won't affect how the coaster operates. The forces from water would not be greater than forces already applied to the roller coaster during normal operation.
EDIT: Hydroplaning wouldn't affect modern coasters in anyway because acceleration and deceleration is not dictated by the wheels on the track.
Old wooden roller coasters were affected by this while using skid brakes as the water would stick to the specks of oil and dust and create a slick layer that made it harder for them to stop. Raging Wolf Bobs at Geauga Lake used to have this problem and would close for some time after heavy rains. I was on it once as a kid when they couldn't stop it, it went through the station twice before they stopped it on the lift and we walked down