All language subtitles for Impossible Engineering s03e11 Worlds Tallest Roller Coaster.eng

Narrator: KINGDA KA --

THE WORLD'S
TALLEST ROLLER COASTER.

THIS IS DEFINITELY
SOMETHING SPECIAL.

Narrator: FOR ENGINEERING
THAT PACKS A PUNCH...

OH, MY GOSH!

THE SENSATION OF A LAUNCH --
THIS IS SOMETHING AKIN

TO JET-FIGHTER STUFF
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

Narrator:
...DESIGNERS HAD TO LOOK

TO INNOVATIONS FROM THE PAST.

THIS IS ONE OF THE LAST
REMAINING RIDES OF ITS TYPE

IN EXISTENCE
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

THESE ARE U.S. NAVY F-18s.

YOU CAN FEEL THE POWER.

WHAT AN EXPERIENCE.

Narrator: ...TO MAKE
THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE.

IN OCEAN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY,
STANDS AN ENGINEERING COLOSSUS.

THIS IS KINGDA KA...

...THE FASTEST ROLLER COASTER
IN AMERICA...

...AND THE TALLEST
IN THE WORLD...

...WITH JET-LIKE ACCELERATION.

ARMS DOWN, HEAD BACK, HOLD ON!

...AND TWICE AS HIGH AS THE
STATUE OF LIBERTY AT 456 FEET.

THIS FINELY TUNED CONSTRUCTION

IS THE PERFECT BALANCE
OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING.

AND ROLLER-COASTER ENGINEER
MICHAEL REITZ

WAS CENTRAL TO ITS CONSTRUCTION.

YOU TAKE IT WHEN LOADED,
A 22,000-POUND TRAIN,

AND YOU LAUNCH IT UP TO 128
MILES AN HOUR IN 3 1/2 SECONDS.

THAT IN AND OF ITSELF
IS AN AMAZING FEAT.

Narrator: THIS RECORD-BREAKING
ROLLER COASTER

HAS ANOTHER ENGINEERING TRICK
UP ITS SLEEVE.

BUILT WITHIN THE STRUCTURE
OF THE 456-FOOT TOP-HAT TOWER

IS ZUMANJARO: DROP OF DOOM...

[ ALL SCREAMING ]

...THE HIGHEST AND FASTEST
DROP RIDE EVER BUILT.

[ SCREAMING CONTINUES ]

Reitz: I THINK A RIDE
OF THIS SIZE AND THIS COMPLEXITY

DOESN'T COME AROUND VERY OFTEN.

IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME
AND IT TAKES A LOT OF MONEY

AND IT TAKES A LOT OF ENERGY TO
CREATE SOMETHING THIS DRAMATIC.

Narrator: THIS 3,100-FOOT-LONG,
ADRENALINE-FUELED RIDE

HAS PUSHED ROLLER-COASTER DESIGN
TO ITS LIMITS.

A 12,500-PEAK HORSEPOWER
LAUNCH SYSTEM FIRES TRAINS

FROM ZERO TO 128 MILES PER HOUR
IN AN ASTONISHING 3.5 SECONDS.

AFTER SCALING
THE 456-FOOT TOWER,

RIDERS PLUNGE INTO A 3/4 SPIRAL,
CREST A SECOND HILL,

AND COMPLETE THE RIDE
IN JUST UNDER A MINUTE.

AND IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH,

ENGINEERS ALSO INCORPORATED
ZUMANJARO,

A 415-FOOT,
90-MILE-PER-HOUR DROP OF DOOM.

WITH EACH RISE AND FALL,
TWIST AND TURN,

THE RIDER EXPERIENCES
A MIXTURE OF ACCELERATION

OR GRAVITATIONAL FORCES

WHICH FORM THE FOUNDATION
OF THE RIDE EXPERIENCE.

BUT TO DESIGN AND BUILD
A RIDE OF THIS MASSIVE STATURE

MEANT PUSHING ENGINEERING

TO MATCH THE LIMITS
OF HUMAN ENDURANCE.

Reitz: WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING
FOR WAYS TO TOP SOMETHING

THAT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE.

WE WANT TO HAVE
THE STEEPEST DROP

OR THE MOST INVERSIONS
OR THE TALLEST OR THE FASTEST.

BUT IT'S HARD TO INNOVATE.

I MEAN, PHYSICS ARE PHYSICS,
YOU KNOW?

YOU CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH
TO THE HUMAN BODY.

Narrator: SO, HOW DO YOU BUILD
A RIDE THIS TALL AND THIS FAST

THAT PEOPLE WILL STILL ENJOY?

THIS WOULD'VE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE
WITHOUT THE BREAKTHROUGH DESIGN

THAT BROUGHT GRAVITY AND PHYSICS
TOGETHER -- THE SCENIC RAILWAY.

[ TICKING ]

IT'S SAID
THAT 17th-CENTURY RUSSIA

WAS THE BIRTHPLACE
OF THE ROLLER COASTER.

GIANT ICE SLIDES
WERE CONSTRUCTED

TO AMUSE THE LIKES
OF CATHERINE THE GREAT.

WAHOO-SHKI!

Narrator: BUT THE SLIDES RELIED
ON COLD WEATHER.

WE ARE NOT AMUSED.

OY! THAT'S MY LINE.

Narrator:
IN 1828, IN PENNSYLVANIA,

A GRAVITY RAILWAY WAS BUILT

TO BRING COAL DOWN
FROM THE MOUNTAINS.

YEEHAW!

Narrator:
BUT IT WAS SO MUCH FUN

THAT TOURISTS STARTED PAYING
TO USE IT, TOO.

SCREAM IF YOU WANT
TO GO FASTER.

[ RIDERS SCREAMING ]

BUT WHILE IT TOOK HALF AN HOUR
TO RIDE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN,

IT TOOK FOUR HOURS FOR MULES

TO PULL THE CARRIAGE
BACK TO THE TOP.

BORED NOW.

FORTUNATELY, ONE MAN REALIZED

THE MOUNTAINS
DIDN'T HAVE TO BE REAL.

[ DONKEY BRAYS ]

AMERICAN INVENTOR
LaMARCUS THOMPSON

WAS INSPIRED
BY THE GRAVITY RIDES

OF THE PENNSYLVANIAN
COAL RAILWAY.

ARE YOU READY?

OH, LET'S DO THIS!

AND SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR
KATE MULCAHY

IS IN THE DANISH CAPITAL,
COPENHAGEN...

[ LAUGHING ]

Narrator: ...EXPERIENCING
THE UPS AND DOWNS

OF THOMPSON'S
TRULY GAME-CHANGING DESIGN.

[ LAUGHING ]

THIS IS THE RUTSCHEBANEN,
ONE OF THE LAST REMAINING RIDES

OF ITS TYPE IN EXISTENCE
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

BACK IN 1914,

IT WAS THE PINNACLE
OF ROLLER-COASTER DESIGN.

ITS CREATOR WOULD GO ON
TO BECOME KNOWN

AS THE FATHER
OF THE GRAVITY THRILL RIDE.

[ LAUGHING, SQUEALING ]

Narrator: IN 1887, THOMPSON
INTRODUCED THE SCENIC RAILWAY,

A PURPOSE-BUILT RIDE THAT
INCORPORATED ARTIFICIAL SCENERY.

WITH IT,

HE INNOVATED A 2,000-FOOT-LONG
FIGURE-8 ROUTE.

THE SCENIC RAILWAY ALLOWED
PASSENGERS TO GET ON AND OFF

AT THE SAME POINT...

AND SOMETHING ELSE
EVEN MORE HAIR-RAISING.

THERE'S AN ELECTRIC MOTOR
THAT OPERATES A CHAIN LIFT

THAT RAISES THE PASSENGERS
TO THE TOP.

Narrator: AT THE TOP
OF THE 85-FOOT-HIGH HILL,

THE LAWS OF PHYSICS TAKE OVER.

AS THE CARS ROLL DOWN,
GRAVITY CREATES ACCELERATION

AND KINETIC ENERGY

UNTIL THE NEXT HILL
FORMS POTENTIAL ENERGY.

THIS PATTERN THEN REPEATS
AS THE FREE-FLOWING

ROLLER-COASTER MOTION
TAKES HOLD.

THE RUTSCHEBANEN
CAN REACH SPEEDS

OF UP TO 36 MILES AN HOUR.

NOW, BECAUSE THIS RIDE RELIES
ON GRAVITY ALONE...

OOH!

...THERE'S A BRAKE PERSON
BEHIND ME...

SO IF WE GET TOO FAST,

THE BRAKE PERSON
MANUALLY SLOWS US DOWN.

WITHOUT THAT, THERE'S A CHANCE

THAT THE CARRIAGES
MIGHT LIFT OFF THE TRACK.

[ CHILDREN SCREAM ]

Narrator: WITH HIS
BREAKTHROUGH ENGINEERING,

THOMPSON'S SCENIC RAILWAYS
WERE IN HIGH DEMAND,

AND BY 1888, HIS THRILLING RIDES
TOTALED 44 WORLDWIDE.

THOMPSON LAID THE FOUNDATION
FOR THE MODERN ROLLER COASTER.

HE WAS A GENIUS OF HIS TIME.

AND WITHOUT HIS WORK,

THIS WOULDN'T NEARLY BE
AS MUCH FUN.

[ SQUEALS ]

[ TICKING ]

Narrator: BUILT FROM OVER
1,500 TONS OF TUBULAR STEEL

AND OVER 40,000 METAL BOLTS,

KINGDA KA'S
TRUSS FRAME CONSTRUCTION

IS A MODERN
ENGINEERING MASTERPIECE.

AND LIKE THOMPSON'S
SCENIC RAILWAY,

IT RELIES ON A MIXTURE
OF MOMENTUM AND GRAVITY

TO TURN POTENTIAL ENERGY
INTO KINETIC ENERGY...

BUT WITH A SPINE-TINGLING TWIST.

Reitz: SO, THE EASIEST WAY TO
PUT ENERGY INTO A ROLLER COASTER

IS WHAT
WE'VE TRADITIONALLY DONE.

THAT'S TO TAKE A TRAIN
UP TO THE TOP OF A HILL.

THIS FLIPS THAT ON ITS HEAD,

AND WE'RE GONNA PUT ALL OF THE
ENERGY IN DOWN ON THE GROUND.

HOLD ON!

Narrator: THE ENERGY NEEDED
TO REACH THAT HEIGHT IS IMMENSE.

Reitz:
WHEN THE TRAIN LAUNCHES,

IT'S UNLIKE ANY OTHER COASTER.

BEING PUSHED INTO
THE LAUNCH POSITION.

THAT AMOUNT OF ENERGY,

FROM ZERO TO 120 MILES PER HOUR
IN 3 1/2 SECONDS,

IT'S SO INTENSE,
YOU'RE STUCK TO THE SEAT.

YOU CAN'T MOVE.

I MEAN, YOU PROBABLY HAVE NEVER
FELT ANYTHING LIKE IT.

OH, MY GOSH!

WHOO!

Narrator:
KNOWN AS AN ACCELERATOR COASTER,

THE REQUIRED KINETIC ENERGY
IS GENERATED AT THE LAUNCH.

OH, WOW!
WE ARE UP AT THE TOP ALREADY.

BUT CRUCIALLY, FOR PASSENGERS,
THE SPEED IS CONVERTED

INTO A RIDE EXPERIENCE
THAT CAN BE TOLERATED.

Reitz: THIS MISCONCEPTION
THAT PEOPLE HAVE

OF HEIGHT AND SPEED
RELATING TO G-FORCES,

IT'S REALLY ONLY RELATED
TO THE ACCELERATION.

I MEAN, AS LONG AS WE STAY
WITHIN THE ACCELERATIONS

THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED

AND WHAT THE BODY
IS CAPABLE OF HANDLING,

THEN WE CAN GO TALLER,
WE CAN GO FASTER.

WOW.

THAT RIDE IS INTENSE EVERY TIME.

Narrator:
THE HUMAN BODY CAN'T FEEL SPEED,

ONLY CHANGES IN SPEED.

BUT ENGINEERS CAN BUILD
CONTROLLED ACCELERATION

INTO THE TRACK ITSELF.

THE RADIUS AND GRADIENT
OF EACH CURVE

IS CAREFULLY CALCULATED

TO KEEP G-FORCES
WITHIN THE REALMS OF PLEASURE,

NOT PAIN.

Reitz: COMING UP WITH NEW WAYS
TO GIVE PEOPLE CONTROLLED FEAR,

IT CAN BE CHALLENGING.

IT CAN BE SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT

BECAUSE WE'VE PUSHED THE LIMITS
OF PHYSICS

AND WE'VE PUSHED THE LIMITS
OF BUILDING,

BUT SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER,
WE SEEM TO KEEP DOING IT.

Narrator: KINGDA KA'S ENGINEERS
HAVE SUCCEEDED IN BUILDING

ONE OF THE MOST AUDACIOUS RIDES
ON THE PLANET.

BUT TO FIRE THIS ROLLER COASTER

OVER A 456-FOOT TOWER
OVER 500 TIMES EACH DAY,

ENGINEERS HAD TO LOOK
TO THE PAST...

Smyth: THE PILOTS INSIDE
THE PLANE EXPERIENCE 6 G.

THAT'S DOUBLE
WHAT ASTRONAUTS UNDERWENT

DURING A SPACE-SHUTTLE LAUNCH.

Narrator: ...TO CREATE
MORE IMPOSSIBLE ENGINEERING.

Narrator: KINGDA KA IS
AMERICA'S FASTEST ROLLER COASTER

AND THE TALLEST ON EARTH.

IN THIS 500-ACRE PARK,

KINGDA KA STANDS HEAD
AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE REST.

BUT WHAT TRULY MAKES IT
A STANDOUT RIDE

IS ITS EXPLOSIVE START.

TO DO THIS,
ENGINEERS HAVE GOTTEN RID

OF THE TRADITIONAL LIFT

TO LAUNCH THE 11-TON TRAIN
UP A VERTICAL MOUNTAIN OF STEEL

KNOWN AS THE TOP HAT.

THIS LAUNCH SYSTEM
NEEDS TO BE FAST.

IT HAS TO GET THAT TRAIN
OVER THE TOP OF THAT TOWER,

AND THAT'S 456 FEET.

THIS PRESENTS
SOME INTERESTING CHALLENGES

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO RELEASE
ALL OF THIS ENERGY

IN A VERY, VERY SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME.

Narrator:
IN JUST 3 1/2 SECONDS,

KINGDA KA CAN REACH
128 MILES PER HOUR.

BUT TRADITIONAL CHAINS OR COGS

SIMPLY COULDN'T COPE
WITH SUCH EXPLOSIVE ENERGY.

SO HOW YOU DO YOU PROPEL
THIS SUPER FAST TRAIN?

THIS ENGINEERING CHALLENGE
WOULD'VE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE

WITHOUT ANOTHER GREAT INVENTION
FROM THE PAST --

THE CATAPULT LAUNCH.

[ TICKING ]

WOW.

Narrator:
ENGINEER ANDREW SMYTH

IS AT THE PATUXENT RIVER
NAVAL AIR STATION IN MARYLAND

TO REVEAL HOW THE ORIGINS
OF THE CATAPULT LAUNCH

HOLD THE KEY
TO LAUNCHING KINGDA KA.

YOU CAN FEEL THE POWER.

WHAT AN EXPERIENCE.

THESE ARE U.S. NAVY F-18s,
AND THEIR PILOTS

ARE CURRENTLY TRAINING FOR
ONE OF THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGES

A NAVAL AVIATOR
WILL EVER FACE --

TAKING OFF AND LANDING
ON AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

Narrator:
DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR,

GROWING MILITARY DEMAND
FOR AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

INTRODUCED A PRESSING PROBLEM.

PRODUCING LARGE,
EXPENSIVE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

IN THE NUMBERS REQUIRED
JUST WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.

FINDING A WAY, THEN,

TO PUT FLIGHT DECKS ON
SMALLER SHIPS WAS THE SOLUTION.

BUT WITH A SHORTER DECK
TO LAUNCH FROM,

ENGINEERS WOULD NEED
TO FIND A WAY

TO GET UP TO TAKEOFF SPEED
FASTER OVER A SHORTER DISTANCE.

Narrator:
AND ENGINEERS DREW FROM

AN ANCIENT CHINESE INVENTION.

THIS IS A CROSSBOW.

WHAT MAKES IT

SUCH A GAME-CHANGING
PIECE OF ENGINEERING

IS ITS ABILITY TO STORE ENERGY
AND RELEASE IT ON DEMAND.

SO, I PULL BACK THE STRING...

[ PIN CLICKS ]

...LOCK IT...

[ LOCK CLICKS ]

...AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO
LOAD THE ARROW.

ALL THE ENERGY IS STORED
IN THE STRING AND IN THE BOW.

AND WHEN I PULL THE TRIGGER,
THE ENERGY WILL BE RELEASED.

WHOA. NOT BAD.

Narrator:
AND WITH THE ADVENT OF JETS,

BRITISH COMMANDER COLIN MITCHELL
WANTED TO LAUNCH AIRCRAFT

WITH A CATAPULT MECHANISM
LIKE THIS,

POWERED BY STEAM FROM
THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER'S BOILER.

Smyth:
THE SECRET OF THE STEAM CATAPULT

LIES BENEATH THE RUNWAY.

BENEATH ME ARE TWO CYLINDERS
WITH TWO PISTONS

CONNECTED TO THIS SHUTTLE,
WHICH CONNECTS TO THE AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: TWO TOW BARS KEEP THE
SHUTTLE IN PLACE FOR TAKEOFF.

Smyth:
AT THE POINT OF LAUNCH,

PRESSURIZED STEAM
IS RELEASED INTO THE CYLINDERS,

FORCING THE AIRCRAFT
DOWN THE RUNWAY.

Narrator: LIKE AN ARROW
SHOT FROM A CROSSBOW,

THE F-18 REMAINS ATTACHED
TO ITS SHUTTLE...

BEFORE THE TOW BARS DISENGAGE
AND RELEASE THE PLANE.

WITH THE CATAPULT LAUNCH,

JETS COULD TAKE OFF
ON 75% SHORTER RUNWAYS,

REDUCING THE NECESSARY LENGTH
OF THE CARRIERS.

Smyth:
TO THIS DAY, HIS DESIGN IS USED

BY NAVIES AROUND THE GLOBE.

[ TICKING ]

Narrator:
IN NEW JERSEY,

ENGINEER MICHAEL REITZ
AND HIS TEAM

ARE TAKING
THE CATAPULT-LAUNCH CONCEPT

TO FIRE OFF ONE OF THE WORLD'S
FASTEST ROLLER COASTERS.

THE SENSATION OF A LAUNCH
ON THIS RIDE

IS UNLIKE ANYTHING
YOU'VE EVER FELT.

LIKE A SUPERBIKE,

THE ACCELERATION
MIGHT BE HALF AS MUCH.

I MEAN, THIS IS SOMETHING AKIN

TO JET-FIGHTER STUFF
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

Narrator:
AND LIKE AN F-18 JET,

KINGDA KA'S HYDRAULIC LAUNCH
HAS ITS OWN CATAPULT SYSTEM

TO PROPEL THE 11-TON TRAIN.

ITS CRUCIAL MECHANISM
IS A TRACK-MOUNTED SHUTTLE,

CALLED A CATCH-CAR.

Reitz: THIS IS WHAT CONNECTS
TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TRAIN

WHEN IT'S LAUNCHING.

Narrator: AS THE TRAIN
ROLLS INTO ITS READY POSITION,

A LEVER KNOWN AS A DOG CONNECTS
THE TRAIN TO THE CATCH-CAR.

Reitz: SO, THE DOG
IS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TRAIN,

AND WHEN THE TRAIN COMES INTO
THE LAUNCH POSITION,

IT FALLS INSIDE OF THIS POCKET.

IN JUST A SECOND,

WE'LL HEAR THE DOG DROP
FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE TRAIN.

[ DOG CLANKS ]

THERE IT IS.
ARMS DOWN...

Narrator: WITH
THE LAUNCH CATAPULT IN PLACE...

[ AIR HISSES ]

ROLLED BACK.
WE'RE LOCKED AND LOADED.

Narrator: ...THE ROLLER COASTER
IS NOW READY

FOR ONE OF THE WORLD'S
MOST THRILLING

ENGINEERING ACHIEVEMENTS.

ARMS DOWN, HEAD BACK, HOLD ON!

OH, MAN!

[ GRUNTING ]

Narrator: WHEN THE CATCH-CAR
DISENGAGES AFTER 2,000 FEET,

PURE MOMENTUM PROPELS THE RIDERS
UP A 90-DEGREE VERTICAL TRACK.

STARING AT THE GROUND.

OH, MAN.

WHOO!

IT NEVER GETS OLD.

Narrator: MOVING FROM ZERO
TO 128 MILES PER HOUR

IN 3 1/2 SECONDS
IS FASTER THAN A FORMULA 1 CAR.

BUT THIS SPEEDY START
REQUIRES SERIOUS POWER.

AND TO PRODUCE SUCH EXPLOSIVE
ENERGY FROM A STANDING START,

ENGINEERS HAD TO TURN
TO THE PAST...

CHECK OUT THIS PIECE
OF ENGINEERING HISTORY.

Narrator: ...TO MAKE
THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE.

Narrator: KINGDA KA IS
AMERICA'S FASTER ROLLER COASTER.

THIS THRILLING RIDE CAN GO
FROM ZERO TO 128 MILES PER HOUR

IN A MERE 3.5 SECONDS.

BUT TO ACHIEVE THIS DEGREE
OF ACCELERATION,

ENGINEERS HAD TO TURN
TO A BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATION

OF THE PAST -- HYDRAULICS.

[ TICKING ]

PHYSICIST ANDREW STEELE IS IN
THE PORT OF GRIMSBY, ENGLAND,

THE BIRTHPLACE
OF A NOW-WIDESPREAD

ENERGY-STORAGE SYSTEM
MADE POSSIBLE WITH HYDRAULICS.

Steele: WHEN THIS TOWER
WAS OPENED IN 1854,

IT WAS ACTUALLY THE WORLD'S
TALLEST NONRELIGIOUS BUILDING.

AND EVEN TODAY, IT STANDS
HIGH ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE

HERE IN GRIMSBY DOCKS.

Narrator: DURING
THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION,

GRIMSBY'S DESIRE
TO TRADE WITH EUROPE

WAS BEING STIFLED BY AN OLD,
INACCESSIBLE HARBOR.

SO ENGINEER WILLIAM ARMSTRONG
TOOK ON THE CHALLENGE

OF OPERATING THE HARBOR'S
HUGE, NEWLY RENOVATED GATES

AND CRANES, AND HE USED
WATER-POWERED HYDRAULICS.

BUT FOR THIS, HE NEEDED
A HIGH-PRESSURE WATER SUPPLY,

WHICH HE COULD GET
BY BUILDING UP --

309 FEET, TO BE EXACT.

CHECK OUT THIS PIECE
OF ENGINEERING HISTORY.

THIS IS THE GUTS
OF ARMSTRONG'S MACHINE.

THE WAY IT WORKS IS THAT
THEY WOULD PUMP WATER

FROM A NEARBY WELL
UP IN THIS PIPE,

AND IT WOULD GO ALL THE WAY UP
TO THE TOP OF THIS TOWER

INTO A 150,000-LITER TANK.

NOW, FOR EVERY METER
THAT YOU GIVE SOME WATER,

THE FORCE OF GRAVITY
MEANS THAT YOU GAIN

.1 ATMOSPHERES OF PRESSURE.

SO BY THE TIME YOU'RE ALL THE
WAY AT THE TOP OF THIS THING,

YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT

10 ATMOSPHERES
OF HYDRAULIC PRESSURE.

Narrator: WITH THIS TOWER,
ARMSTRONG HAD CREATED

THE WORLD'S FIRST
HYDRAULIC ACCUMULATOR.

BECAUSE OF GRAVITY, WATER STORED
AT HEIGHTS LIKE THESE

PRESSURIZES THE WATER
WHEN RELEASED AT GROUND LEVEL.

FROM THE TANK ABOVE,

A VERTICAL PIPE CONNECTS
TO MACHINERY ON THE DOCK BELOW.

BY OPENING A VALVE
ON EACH MACHINE,

THE HIGHLY PRESSURIZED WATER
ALLOWED THE GATES TO OPEN

AND CRANES TO LIFT.

GRIMSBY TOWER TURNED AROUND
THE HARBOR'S FORTUNES,

AND ALTHOUGH IT NOW STANDS IDLE,

ARMSTRONG'S HYDRAULIC GENIUS
LIVES ON.

[ TICKING ]

OVER 150 YEARS LATER,
IN NEW JERSEY,

ENGINEERS
ARE HARNESSING HYDRAULICS

TO ROCKET RIDERS OF THE WORLD'S
TALLEST ROLLER COASTER --

KINGDA KA.

ENGINEER MICHAEL REITZ
IS BEHIND THE SCENES

TO REVEAL THE INNER WORKINGS OF
THIS 12,500-HORSEPOWER LAUNCH.

NOBODY REALLY GETS TO SEE
THIS AMAZING PIECE OF MACHINERY

BACK HERE.

THIS REALLY IS THE HEART
OF KINGDA KA.

THIS IS WHAT ENABLES US
TO LAUNCH THAT TRAIN.

Narrator: BUT UNLIKE ARMSTRONG'S
GRAVITY-FED 300-FOOT TOWER,

KINGDA KA'S HYDRAULIC POWER
IS CREATED

BY A VARIETY
OF CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES.

WHAT YOU SEE IN THE MIDDLE
IS A GIANT RESERVOIR

HOLDING A LOT
OF THE HYDRAULIC FLUID.

DOWN BELOW, THERE'S FOUR
500-HORSEPOWER PUMPS.

THOSE PUMPS PULL THE FLUID
OUT OF THAT RESERVOIR,

AND THEY PUMP IT
INTO THIS GIANT PISTON HERE.

Narrator: AS THE PISTON FILLS,
IT'S PUSHED IN,

COMPRESSING NITROGEN THAT'S
STORED IN FOUR ACCUMULATORS.

ONCE THE SYSTEM'S CHARGED,

THE VALVE ON THE PISTON
IS OPENED,

AND THE PRESSURIZED NITROGEN
FORCES THE FLUID BACK OUT,

INTO THE WINCH MECHANISM,
LAUNCHING THE TRAIN ABOVE.

Reitz:
IT HAPPENS SO QUICKLY,

THESE ACCUMULATORS ARE CHARGED
WITH THE NITROGEN

TO ABOUT 4,000 PSI.

FOR COMPARISON, YOUR CAR TIRE
ONLY TAKES ABOUT 40 PSI.

[ WHIRRING ]

WHEN WE LAUNCH A TRAIN,

NO ONE'S ALLOWED TO BE
INSIDE THIS HYDRAULIC ROOM.

IT IS A SIGHT TO SEE.

[ WHIRRING ]

IT'S LIKE A THUNDEROUS ROAR
IN HERE.

[ WHIRRING ]

Narrator: THE POWER
OF THIS TECHNOLOGICAL MARVEL

IS TRULY IMPRESSIVE,

BUT TO COMPLETE AMERICA'S
FASTEST ROLLER COASTER,

ITS DESIGNERS HAD TO DRAW ON
MORE INSPIRED INVENTIONS

FROM THE PAST...

OH! [ LAUGHS ]

WOW! FOR A HUNDRED YEARS OLD,
IT STILL REALLY PACKS A PUNCH!

Narrator: ...TO PRODUCE
MORE IMPOSSIBLE ENGINEERING.

Narrator: KINGDA KA,
BUILT IN JUST 14 MONTHS

USING NEARLY
16,000 TONS OF STEEL.

THIS 456-FOOT-TALL MEGA RIDE
TOWERS ABOVE

EVERY OTHER ROLLER COASTER
IN AMERICA

AND CAN BE SEEN FROM AS FAR
AS 20 MILES AWAY.

AT SPEEDS
OF 128 MILES PER HOUR...

...THIS ACCELERATOR COASTER
IS ENGINEERED FOR FUN

AND EXPLOITS
NATURE'S GRAVITATIONAL FORCES

WHILE STILL KEEPING THE TRAIN
ON THE TRACKS.

Reitz: IN A SENSE,
WHAT THE RIDER FEELS,

THE TRAIN ALSO FEELS.

SO THAT MEANS THAT AS YOU'RE
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TOWER

AND YOU HEAD INTO THAT CURVE,
IF IT'S STICKING ME IN THE SEAT,

IT'S STICKING THE TRAIN
TO THE TRACK.

WHEN IT TWISTS,

THERE'S SOME LATERAL FORCES THAT
WOULD HAPPEN WITH THE TRAIN,

AND GUIDE WHEELS WILL
HELP CONTROL THAT ON THE TRACK.

Narrator: ON LAUNCH, THE RIDER
FEELS PUSHED BACK INTO THE SEAT,

WHICH IS LINEAR G-FORCE.

ON SUDDEN CLIMBS AND TURNS,

THE RIDER FEELS AN INCREASE
IN WEIGHT,

WHICH IS POSITIVE G-FORCE.

AND BECAUSE THE TRAIN ITSELF
ENDURES THESE SAME FORCES,

KEEPING IT CONNECTED TO THE
TRACK IS A BIG DESIGN CHALLENGE.

THOUGH IT'S THE MOST FUN,

THE MOST DIFFICULT FORCE
TO CONTEND WITH

IS THE SENSATION
OF WEIGHTLESSNESS,

CALLED ZERO G.

Reitz:
THAT'S ALL A RESULT

OF THE SHAPE OF THE TRACK
OR THE SHAPE OF THE CURVE.

AGAIN, WHAT THE RIDER FEELS,
THE TRAIN ALSO FEELS.

SO THE TRAIN
WANTS TO COME OFF OF THE TRACK,

SO THAT'S
WHAT WE HAVE TO DESIGN FOR

IN CONTROLLING THE TRAIN
WITH RESPECT TO THOSE G-FORCES.

Narrator: SO, HOW DO YOU PREVENT
A 22,000-POUND,

FULLY LOADED ROLLER COASTER
FROM FLYING OFF THE TRACK

IN A STATE OF WEIGHTLESSNESS?

ENGINEERS HAD TO LOOK
TO ONE OF HISTORY'S

GREATEST INNOVATIONS --
UP-STOP WHEELS.

[ TICKING ]

[ CALLIOPE MUSIC PLAYS ]

DR. RHYS MORGAN
IS IN THE SEASIDE TOWN

OF BLACKPOOL, ENGLAND,

TO EXPERIENCE AN HISTORIC PIECE
OF ROLLER-COASTER ENGINEERING.

Morgan: I HAVE TO SAY,
IT'S ABOUT 10 YEARS

SINCE I'VE BEEN ON
A ROLLER COASTER.

I'M REALLY QUITE NERVOUS.

THIS IS THE BIG DIPPER,

A WONDERFUL PIECE OF HISTORIC
ENGINEERING GENIUS.

THE CARS TRAVEL
UP TO 35 MILES PER HOUR.

HERE WE GO.

OH. [ LAUGHING ]

OH! [ LAUGHING ]

OH, MY GOSH!

IT WENT FASTER
AND HAD BIGGER HILLS

THAN ANY ROLLER COASTER
PREVIOUSLY!

[ LAUGHING ]

IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF ONE MAN
AND HIS GENIUS DESIGN.

Narrator:
JOHN MILLER WAS AN AMERICAN

DESIGNER AND ENTREPRENEUR

WHO PATENTED OVER 100
KEY ROLLER-COASTER INNOVATIONS.

WOW! FOR A HUNDRED YEARS OLD,
IT STILL REALLY PACKS A PUNCH!

Narrator:
PRIOR TO MILLER'S DESIGN,

ENGINEERS FACED A PROBLEM.

Morgan: AHH.

Narrator:
THEY COULD ONLY DESIGN RIDES

WITH RELATIVELY SMALL HILLS
BECAUSE AS THE TRAINS

ACCELERATED DOWN
AND THEN UPHILL,

THE HIGH SPEED WOULD CAUSE THEM
TO LIFT OFF

OR EVEN FLY OFF OF THE TRACK.

TO OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM,

MILLER DESIGNED
THE UP-STOP WHEEL.

OH, WOW.
THIS IS REALLY EXCITING.

SO, HERE WE ARE, UNDERNEATH
THE ROLLER COASTER ITSELF.

AND THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

THIS IS MILLER'S
INNOVATIVE DESIGN.

THESE ARE THE UNDERFRICTION,
OR UP-STOP, WHEELS.

THEY GO UNDERNEATH THE TRACK.

HERE'S THE TRACK OVER HERE.

YOU'VE GOT THE RUNNING WHEELS
ON TOP.

AND THEN, AS THE CARS GO UP
TO THE TOP OF A HILL,

TO PREVENT THE CARS
FROM FLYING AWAY,

THESE UP-STOP WHEELS JUST PUSH
AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF THE TRACK.

IT'S SUCH A SIMPLE
AND ELEGANT SOLUTION,

AND IT ABSOLUTELY REVOLUTIONIZED

THE WAY ROLLER COASTERS
WERE DESIGNED FOR THE FUTURE.

Narrator:
THE BIG DIPPER REMAINS AN ICON

OF ROLLER-COASTER ENGINEERING.

WOW!

WHEN YOU GET
TO THE TOP OF THE HILL,

YOU WANT TO TAKE OFF,

BUT IT'S THANKS
TO THE UP-STOP WHEELS

THAT YOU'RE NOT FLYING
INTO THE AIR.

OH.

Narrator:
UP-STOP WHEELS ALLOWED ENGINEERS

TO BUILD BIGGER AND FASTER,

AND THEY'RE STILL USED ON EVERY
ROLLER COASTER DESIGNED TODAY.

[ CHUCKLES ]

OH, MY GOD.

GET ME OFF THIS THING.

UGH.

[ TICKING ]

Narrator: IN NEW JERSEY,
ENGINEERS ARE NOT ONLY USING

MILLER'S UP-STOP WHEELS,

THEY'RE INCORPORATING
AN ENTIRE SERIES OF GUIDE WHEELS

CRUCIAL FOR THE SAFETY
OF THE EPIC KINGDA KA.

Reitz:
THIS IS ONE OF THE TRAINS,

AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOOK
AT THE WHEELS,

WHICH ARE CONTROLLING
THE MOTION OF THE TRAIN.

AND UP TOP, WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS,

WE CALL THIS A ROAD WHEEL
OR A LOAD WHEEL.

THOSE ARE THE WHEELS THAT
THE TRAIN RUNS ON ALL THE TIME.

THESE ARE CALLED
THE GUIDE WHEELS,

AND THEY SIT
TO THE SIDE OF THE TRACK.

AND THEY CONTROL THE
LEFT-RIGHT MOTION OF THE TRAIN.

THESE ARE CALLED
THE UP-STOP WHEELS.

Narrator:
MADE OF ULTRA SMOOTH

AND DURABLE
LOW-FRICTION POLYURETHANE,

THESE UP-STOP WHEELS MAKE
OR BREAK THE COASTER'S SUCCESS.

TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR IMPORTANCE,

MICHAEL IS ONCE AGAIN
TAKING TO THE COASTER.

OH!

WHOO!

Narrator: AFTER SUMMITING
THE 456-FOOT TOWER,

THE 22,000-POUND TRAIN
PLUNGES DOWNWARD.

THIS GENERATES ENOUGH SPEED
TO CLIMB THE RIDE'S HILL,

CALLED CAMELBACK,

WHICH CREATES THE ZERO-G
SENSATION OF WEIGHTLESSNESS.

Reitz:
THESE UP-STOP WHEELS

ARE IN CONTACT
WITH THE TRACK ALL THE TIME,

BUT THEY REALLY
DON'T COME INTO PLAY

UNTIL THE TRAIN FEELS
A ZERO G OR A NEGATIVE G,

AN AREA WHERE THE TRAIN
WANTS TO COME OFF.

WHOO! CLIMB THE HILL.

WHEN IT WANTS TO COME OFF,
THESE WHEELS ENGAGE HARD

AND STOP THE TRAIN
FROM LIFTING OFF THE TRACK.

Narrator: THE UP-STOP WHEELS
ARE SO STRONG,

THEY STOP THE EQUIVALENT WEIGHT
OF TWO ADULT ELEPHANTS

FROM FLYING OFF THE TRACK.

HERE WE ARE, BACK HOME AGAIN.

THESE UP-STOP WHEELS
ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

THAT ALLOWS US TO GO FASTER
AND ALLOWS US TO GO TALLER,

IT ALLOWS US TO DO THE THINGS
WE WANT TO DO,

BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM,

THERE'S REALLY NO WAY THIS TRAIN
IS GONNA STAY ON THE TRACK.

Narrator:
THE ENGINEERS OF KINGDA KA

ARE SETTING A NEW BENCHMARK
IN EXTREME RIDE DESIGN.

BUT TO ENSURE EACH
128-MILE-PER-HOUR,

ADRENALINE-FUELED RIDE
COMES TO A SAFE END,

ENGINEERS HAD TO LOOK
TO THE PAST...

WHOO-HOO!

Mulcahy: IT'S PUTTING LOTS
OF TOLL ON THE STEERING SYSTEM,

ON THE SUSPENSION,
BUT ABOVE ALL, THE BRAKES.

Narrator: ...TO PRODUCE
MORE IMPOSSIBLE ENGINEERING.

Narrator:
KINGDA KA IN NEW JERSEY

IS THE FASTEST ROLLER COASTER
IN AMERICA

AND THE TALLEST ON EARTH.

BUT FOR MICHAEL REITZ
AND THE TEAM,

THE RECORD-BREAKING RIDES
DON'T END THERE.

WE ARE STANDING
IN THE STATION OF ZUMANJARO,

THE TALLEST DROP RIDE
IN THE WORLD.

415 FEET TALL, 90 MILES AN HOUR.

Narrator:
INGENIOUSLY BUILT WITHIN

THE ROLLER COASTER'S
TOP-HAT TOWER,

THE ZUMANJARO DROP OF DOOM
DRIVES BY GRAVITY ALONE.

[ RIDERS SCREAMING ]

BUT WITH EACH 10-SECOND,
90-MILE-PER-HOUR RIDE,

THE ENGINEERS HAD TO DESIGN
WITH SAFETY IN MIND.

Reitz: ANYTIME WE DESIGN A RIDE,
HANDS DOWN,

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO US
IS SAFETY,

AND THAT MEANS IT HAS TO STOP
AND IT HAS TO STOP RELIABLY

AND IT HAS TO STOP
EVERY SINGLE TIME.

Narrator:
BUT ACHIEVING THIS

WAS A COLOSSAL
ENGINEERING CHALLENGE.

Reitz: WHEN YOU'VE GOT
A FULLY LOADED GONDOLA,

YOU'RE TRYING TO STOP
THOUSANDS OF POUNDS

IN A RELATIVELY SHORT DISTANCE.

Narrator:
WITH THE RIDE IN CONSTANT USE,

A BRAKING SYSTEM SUSCEPTIBLE TO
WEAR AND TEAR IS NOT AN OPTION.

SO HOW CAN ENGINEERS
ENSURE THE DROP OF DOOM

WILL SAFELY STOP
BEFORE IT HITS THE GROUND?

THIS WOULD'VE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE
WITHOUT

THE BREAKTHROUGH DISCOVERY
OF...EDDY-CURRENT BRAKES.

[ TICKING ]

THIS IS AWESOME!

THESE SOUPED-UP PICKUP TRUCKS
ARE GOING AT INCREDIBLE SPEED.

Narrator: SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR
KATE MULCAHY

IS AT ROCKINGHAM RACETRACK
IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, ENGLAND...

[ LAUGHS ]

...TO DISCOVER
THE PITFALLS OF BRAKING

IN THE MOST DEMANDING
OF ENVIRONMENTS.

WHEN YOU'VE GOT VEHICLES
TRAVELING AT SUCH HUGE SPEEDS,

IT'S PUTTING LOTS OF TOLL
ON THE STEERING SYSTEM,

ON THE SUSPENSION,
BUT ABOVE ALL, THE BRAKES.

Narrator:
VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEMS

HAVE TRADITIONALLY RELIED
ON FRICTION,

NO MATTER HOW EXTREME
THE CONDITIONS...

[ LAUGHING ]

...AS KATE FINDS OUT FIRSTHAND.

[ SCREAMS, LAUGHS ]

THE WAY
THE BRAKE SYSTEM WORKS IS,

WHEN THE DRIVER
PRESSES ON THE BRAKE PEDAL,

THE BRAKE PADS
PRESS AGAINST THE DISC,

AND THAT FRICTION
SLOWS US DOWN.

BUT THAT SAME FRICTION
ALSO HAS ADVERSE SIDE EFFECTS.

[ BRAKES SQUEALING ]
AWESOME.

[ LAUGHS ]
THAT WAS AWESOME.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE
IS THE BRAKING PAD,

WHICH, AT THE MOMENT,
IS IN PRETTY GOOD CONDITION.

Narrator: BUT IF A PAD
IS REPEATEDLY SUBJECTED

TO HIGH LEVELS OF FRICTION,
IT'S A DIFFERENT STORY.

EVENTUALLY, THIS FRICTION
WILL WEAR DOWN THE BRAKE PAD,

AND IF YOU LET IT
GET WAY TOO FAR,

YOU CAN END UP
WITH THIS KIND OF EROSION HERE,

WHICH CAN BE
ACTUALLY QUITE DANGEROUS.

Narrator:
RACING TEAMS HAVE THE LUXURY

OF CHANGING THEIR PADS
AFTER EVERY RACE.

BUT IF A VEHICLE HAS TO RELY
ON EXTREME BRAKING

FOR MONTHS ON END,
IT COULD SPELL DISASTER.

OVER 150 YEARS AGO,
FRENCH PHYSICIST LéON FOUCAULT

MADE A DISCOVERY THAT OFFERED
AN INGENIOUS SOLUTION.

HE IDENTIFIED
A PECULIAR ELECTRICAL PHENOMENON

KNOWN AS EDDY CURRENTS.

THESE EMERGED WHEN A
NONMAGNETIC METAL, LIKE COPPER,

MOVED QUICKLY BY A MAGNET.

Mulcahy: TO DEMONSTRATE
HOW EDDY CURRENTS WORK,

I'M GOING TO DO
A VERY SIMPLE EXPERIMENT

USING THIS APPARATUS HERE.

FIRST THING I HAVE
IS A METAL PLATE.

IT'S MADE OF COPPER.

IT'S ABLE TO MOVE FREELY
ON THIS SLIDER,

SO IT CAN SLIDE UP AND DOWN.

AND I HAVE A LITTLE MOUNT.

Narrator:
BY INTRODUCING AN EGG,

KATE DEMONSTRATES
THE FORCES AT WORK.

WHAT I'M GONNA DO
IS I'M GONNA RELEASE MY PLATE,

SEND IT DOWN,
AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

HERE IT GOES.

IT GATHERS SPEED...

OH!

SO, NOW, THIS TIME,
I'M GONNA REPEAT THE EXPERIMENT,

BUT I'M JUST GONNA INTRODUCE
THIS VERY POWERFUL MAGNET.

SO IT'S HOVERING OVER
MY METAL PLATE.

Narrator:
COPPER IS NONMAGNETIC,

SO WHEN IT'S STATIONARY,

IT'S NOT ATTRACTED
TO THE MAGNET.

SO, IF I MOVE MY PLATE
BACK UP TO THE START...

I'LL ADD MY SECOND PASSENGER.

Narrator: BUT WHEN COPPER
MOVES PAST A MAGNET,

SOMETHING INCREDIBLE HAPPENS.

WE'LL LET IT GO, AND HOPEFULLY,
WE SHOULD SEE A DIFFERENCE.

WOW! SO, THERE YOU HAVE IT.

IT SLOWED RIGHT DOWN,
AND THE QUESTION IS, WHY?

Narrator: AND THE ANSWER
NOT ONLY PROVIDED A ROAD MAP

THAT REVOLUTIONIZED
BRAKING SYSTEMS THE WORLD OVER,

IT ALSO PAVED THE WAY
FOR THE DROP OF DOOM

TO BRAKE SAFELY AND RELIABLY.

Narrator:
KINGDA KA IN NEW JERSEY

IS THE TALLEST ROLLER COASTER
ON THE PLANET,

AND BUILT INTO
THIS HIGH-FLYING STRUCTURE

IS THE ZUMANJARO: DROP OF DOOM,

WHICH IS THE TALLEST DROP RIDE
IN THE WORLD.

[ RIDERS SCREAM ]

BUT BRAKING A CARRIAGE HURLING
DOWNWARD AT 90 MILES PER HOUR

CONSTANTLY AND RELIABLY
WOULD'VE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE

WITHOUT THE BREAKTHROUGH
DISCOVERY OF EDDY CURRENTS.

[ TICKING ]

WOW! SO THERE YOU HAVE IT.

IT SLOWED RIGHT DOWN,
AND THE QUESTION IS, WHY?

Narrator:
EDDY CURRENTS EMERGE

WHEN NONMAGNETIC METALS
LIKE COPPER

PASS THROUGH A MAGNETIC FIELD.

THAT'S BECAUSE MOTION
BRINGS OUT THE METAL'S

ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE
QUALITIES.

Mulcahy: WHEN MY COPPER PLATE
PASSED UNDERNEATH THE MAGNET,

IT WAS IN
A CHANGING MAGNETIC FIELD.

THIS INDUCES CIRCULAR CURRENTS,
ALSO KNOWN AS EDDY CURRENTS,

AND THE MAGNETIC FORCE OF THOSE

PUSHES AGAINST THE MAGNETIC
FORCE OF THE MAGNET,

AND THAT SLOWS THE PLATE DOWN.

Narrator: WHEN SCALED UP,
FOUCAULT'S EDDY-CURRENT SYSTEMS

WERE EMPLOYED IN WIDE-RANGING
BRAKING SYSTEMS EVERYWHERE,

FROM HIGH-SPEED TRAINS
TO POWER TOOLS.

[ TICKING ]

BACK IN NEW JERSEY,

MICHAEL REITZ IS PUTTING HIS
FAITH IN EDDY-CURRENT BRAKES...

...TO BRING THE WORLD'S TALLEST
DROP RIDE TO A SAFE STOP.

OH, BOY.

WE ARE JUST ABOUT AT THE TOP.

WHAT AN AMAZING VIEW.
OH, MY GOD. HERE WE GO.

OH, THE ANTICIPATION.

OH, BOY!

OH! HOO-HOO! WHOA!

WHERE ARE THE BRAKES?! OH!

[ LAUGHING ]

MAN, EVERY TIME.

THAT DROP IS SO INTENSE.

[ BEEPING ]
HOO!

HITS A SPEED OF ABOUT 90 MILES
PER HOUR ON THAT DROP.

THAT'S A LOT OF ENERGY.

AND TO REMOVE THAT ENERGY,
YOU HAVE THE BRAKING,

WHICH STARTS
ABOUT 150 FEET OFF THE GROUND.

Narrator:
ZUMANJARO'S TRACK IS RIGGED

WITH A SERIES OF ELECTRICALLY
CONDUCTIVE ALUMINUM FINS.

WHEN THE GONDOLA
REACHES THE FINS,

ITS MAGNETS ON THE REAR
ELECTRICALLY INTERACT WITH THEM.

THIS CREATES
THE CRUCIAL EDDY CURRENTS,

WHICH SLOW THE GONDOLA DOWN.

INCREDIBLY, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
THIS ELECTRICAL BRAKING SYSTEM

ACTUALLY IMPROVES
THE FASTER THE GONDOLA GOES,

AND MICHAEL DEMONSTRATES
JUST HOW EFFECTIVE IT IS.

WHAT YOU HAVE
IS TWO SETS OF MAGNETS HERE,

AND IN BETWEEN THE MAGNETS,
THERE'S A GAP.

IF I TAKE THIS ALUMINUM FIN AND
IT PUT IT INSIDE OF THIS GAP,

I CAN FEEL
A LITTLE BIT OF RESISTANCE.

IT'S NOT TOO HARD.

BUT AS SOON AS I TRY TO PUT
ANY KIND OF SPEED

ON THAT FIN AND MOVE IT QUICKLY,

IT BECOMES
NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO.

IT'S -- IT'S SUPER HARD.

[ GRUNTS ]

I COULD GET A WORKOUT
DOING THAT.

Narrator:
BECAUSE OF THIS,

SLOWING DOWN A 90-MILE-PER-HOUR
GONDOLA IS NO PROBLEM,

AND THESE INNOVATIVE,
CONTACTLESS BRAKES

DO THE JOB DAY IN, DAY OUT,
FOR MONTHS ON END.

Reitz:
THEY ARE FRICTIONLESS.

THEY DON'T REQUIRE
MUCH MAINTENANCE.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
THEY'RE ON ALL THE TIME.

THEY'RE FAILSAFE.

[ RIDERS SCREAMING ]

I WOULD SAY
THAT EDDY-CURRENT BRAKES

KIND OF CHANGED THE GAME
IN AMUSEMENT RIDES

BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE
A PERFECT SOLUTION.

THE BEAUTY OF MAGNETISM.

[ SCREAMING CONTINUES ]

[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator: AFTER 150 YEARS
OF ROLLER-COASTER DEVELOPMENT,

MANY BELIEVED THAT THRILL-RIDE
DESIGN HAD REACHED ITS LIMITS.

BUT WITH THE OPENING OF
ZUMANJARO AND KINGDA KA IN 2005,

ENGINEERS
HAVE PUSHED THE BOUNDARIES

FURTHER THAN MANY
THOUGHT POSSIBLE.

Reitz: THIS IS DEFINITELY
SOMETHING SPECIAL.

KNOWING THAT IT WAS THE TALLEST
AND THE FASTEST

AND THAT I WAS PART OF THAT,
IT'S COOL.

AND SEEING PEOPLE COME OFF IT
FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME,

THAT JUST MAKES YOU HAPPY.

Narrator: BY DRAWING FROM
THE PIONEERS OF THE PAST,

ADAPTING THEIR IDEAS,

AND MAKING DISCOVERIES
OF THEIR OWN...

OH, WOW!

Narrator: ...ENGINEERS
HAVE TAKEN ROLLER COASTERS

TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL,
MAKING THE IMPOSSIBLE...

WHOA! WHERE ARE THE BRAKES?!

Narrator: ...POSSIBLE.

[ LAUGHING ]

LOOKING BACK DOWN
ON THIS RIDE FROM ABOVE,

I REMEMBER WHEN WE BUILT IT,

AND THAT KIND OF TAKES YOU BACK
TO ALL THE CHALLENGES

AND ALL THE TIME SPENT
MAKING IT REALITY.

AND YOU JUST GET A LITTLE PROUD.
YOU'RE PROUD OF WHAT YOU CREATE.

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