Take the ride of your life! We love the excitement of riding roller coasters, but why? Climb in and remain seated for an exhilarating exploration of the science and psychology behind America's adrenaline rush. Every year, roller coasters evolve. Some get bigger, faster, longer and more terrifying, hurtling riders upside-down, backwards and down steep descents--sometimes at speeds nearing 80 miles per hour; but some just get more high-tech. Momentum, friction, gravity, energy, acceleration, and centripetal force are simply the physical laws behind some of our favorite frightmakers. Your mind does so much of the work to get your spine tingling--transforming physical messages of stress and danger into exhilaration--that sometimes just sitting still is a thrill ride.


Special DVD features include: materials and activities for educators; a link to the NOVA Web site; scene selections; and closed captions. On one DVD5 disc. Region coding: All Regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: 4 x 3 Full Screen.