Roller coaster ride for physics
6 Jul 2005 by Evoluted New Media
A world-renowned roller coaster designer is to receive an honorary doctorate for his ability to link physics to the experience of the human body
A world-renowned roller coaster designer is to receive an honorary doctorate for his ability to link physics to the experience of the human body.
Wernel Stengel will be awarded the doctorate from Gothenburg University in recognition of his achievements in mathematics and physics. The university has used his constructions to teach over 10,000 students since 1995 and has set up a project at the Liseberg amusement park in Sweden to allow students to experiment on his designs.
“Working with authentic tasks involving the forces in roller coasters is inspiring and helps students develop three-dimensional thinking,” said Ann-Marie Pendrill, professor of physics and director of the Project.
Stengel started working with roller coasters in 1963 and is the man behind the majority of the world's top-ranked roller coasters, including Oblivion at Alton Towers and rides at Thorpe Park and Busch Gardens. Many feature loops in the form of a clothoid, which ensure that the strain on the body is much less than it would have been if the loop had been perfectly circular.
Werner Stengel infront of one of his creations
