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The Physics Behind Waterslides

Posted by samzenpus on from the slide-science dept.

theodp writes "National Geographic takes a high-level look at the physics behind waterslides. A lot of science goes into providing a safe 60 mph trip down slides like Walt Disney World's 10-story Summit Plummet. 'Safety is our number one concern,' explains Rick Hunter of ProSlide Technology. 'We're thinking about things like, "are you going to stay on the fiberglass tube," it's really easy to do a computer model and look at curves and drops and forecast rider position and speed.'"

7 of 79 comments (clear)

  1. Just curious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    How many slashdotters have been to a water park recently, and by water park you can include a shower.

    1. Re:Just curious by TWiTfan · · Score: 4, Funny

      Does googling the term "water sports" count?

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    2. Re:Just curious by SJHillman · · Score: 4, Funny

      I'd be more interested in knowing how many of them engineer their slides to improve the odds of a bikini coming off mid-slide. And where I can find the works of said engineers. To observe. For science.

    3. Re:Just curious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      I'd be more interested in knowing how many of them engineer their slides to improve the odds of a bikini coming off mid-slide. And where I can find the works of said engineers. To observe. For science.

      Sexual orientation be damned, the inadvertent removal of clothing, or at minimum, the always-entertaining "wedgie", should be the secondary goal, right behind ensuring the rider lives long enough to survive the YouTube onslaught. For social science of course.

  2. Shouldn't that be "The Engineering Behind..."? by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 4, Funny

    > the physics behind waterslides

    Shouldn't that be "The Engineering Behind..."?

    > National Geographic

    Well...at least the article will feature some topless photos.

  3. Well, they certainly have a lot of experts by emag · · Score: 3, Funny

    So we turned to some experts: the people who design water parks rides, a physicist with three small children, and two 14-year-old twins who are self-described "water park enthusiasts."

    So, a couple teens, a dad whose specialty is particle physics, and the actual people who design the slides. Glad someone has some actual experience...

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  4. Re:Correction by bobbied · · Score: 5, Funny

    Watersides are just slippery slopes.... Which is a logical argument...

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