Roller coaster engineer Korey Kiepert joins WIRED to answer the internet’s burning questions about roller coasters and the people who design them. How do roller coasters work? Who invented the first roller coaster? How are roller coasters tested? What the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world? How do they stay on the rails while looping and speeding down the track? Engineer Korey Kiepert answers each of these questions plus plenty more on Roller Coaster Support.
0:00 Roller Coaster Support
0:12 Kingda Ka, the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world
0:36 Who invented the roller coaster?
1:19 That sinking feeling
2:34 The best seat on a roller coaster
3:17 How are roller coasters tested?
4:35 Wooden coasters vs. Metal
5:38 How roller coasters stay on the tracks
6:34 The art and science of roller coaster design
7:35 Let’s hear it for engineers
8:24 Chat, is it easy to design roller coasters?
9:03 Why do all inverts have a curved first drop?
9:46 How many roller coasters does one person design?
10:28 How do roller coasters work?
11:00 Are carnival rides safe?
11:48 Why are the rides so short?
12:34 Does the USA have the best roller coasters?
13:16 What roller coasters will be like in 40 years
14:03 Why hit the brakes?
14:31 Why do roller coasters make me tired?
14:44 Why do roller coasters break down?
15:23 The line between wooden and metal roller coasters
Director: Jackie Phillips
Director of Photography: AJ Young
Editor: Richard Trammell
Talent: Korey Kiepert
Line Producer: Joseph Buscemi
Associate Producer: Paul Gulyas
Production Manager: Peter Brunette
Production Coordinator: Rhyan Lark
Casting Producer: Nicholas Sawyer
Camera Operator: Lucas Vilicich
Sound Mixer: Paul Cornett
Production Assistant: Lauren Boucher
Post Production Supervisor: Christian Olguin
Post Production Coordinator: Ian Bryant
Supervising Editor: Doug Larsen
Additional Editor: Jason Malizia; JC Scruggs
Assistant Editor: Billy Ward
The photo of Gold Reef City was taken by NOLWEEN and used under the Creative Commons 3.0 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
The photo of the Wildcat Coaster was taken by WILDCAT1 and has been released into the public domain by the author.
Still haven’t subscribed to WIRED on YouTube? ►► http://wrd.cm/15fP7B7
Listen to the Get WIRED podcast ►► https://link.chtbl.com/wired-ytc-desc
Want more WIRED? Get the magazine ►► https://subscribe.wired.com/subscribe/splits/wired/WIR_YouTube?source=EDT_WIR_YouTube_0_Video_Description_ZZ
Follow WIRED:
Instagram ►►https://instagram.com/wired
Twitter ►►http://www.twitter.com/wired
Facebook ►►https://www.facebook.com/wired
Tik Tok ►►https://www.tiktok.com/@wired
Get more incredible stories on science and tech with our daily newsletter: https://wrd.cm/DailyYT
Also, check out the free WIRED channel on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV.
ABOUT WIRED
WIRED is where tomorrow is realized. Through thought-provoking stories and videos, WIRED explores the future of business, innovation, and culture.
source
I know it’s down rn for maintenance, but formula rossa at Ferrari world hits 149mph making it the fastest in the world. KK still has the height record of course
I am fairly sure Formula Rossa in Abu Dhabi is faster than Kingda Ka.
Great information and lots of fun. And even if I’m the only one who says it, thanks for not using foul language unnecessarily. Personally, I appreciate that a lot!
What about Formula rossa that goes 149 mph.
6:31 you meant early 20th century, ie 1919. Early 19th century would be 18xx
That 400+ ft drop and 128mph coaster sounds like my personal nightmare… then again… I have a phobia of roller coasters and I’m not sure why I watched this video… but it was a good video 😮
Uncle Roger is destroying roller coasters now ?
that color shirt says someone is the inventor of the murder coaster
He was very careful to not say 5g lmao
8:08 cornball express mentioned 🥂
They used teenagers as test dummies in the Twin Racer at Kings Island ('70 or '71–I forget now). I was one of them. Went around that track over 20 times in a row. Took me a while to find my balance again after that.
I had the fortunate opportunity to talk to this guy a few years ago during a zoom meeting with other engineers and amusement park representatives. He is such a sweet guy, and an even greater engineer!
Olympia is amazing, it was set up in my city around 10 years ago. Expensive to ride, but it's so worth it. Yes, it's portable, but there are very few stationed roller coasters that have 5 loopings! Makes you appreciate it so much more.
Kingda ka is not fastest silly boon get out now
The fastest coaster in the world is actually formula rossa at Ferrari world in Abu Dhabi
Thank you!
Typical engineer thinks that inspections are followed or operating limits respected… Ha!
ngl I always thought the tweets were fake but then I saw Jake Coaster and I'm fanboying like "I know him! I know him!"
Fastest coaster in the world is formula Rosa in UAE not in the US
Who on earth is tired right after a rollercoaster ride?? I always thought the default feeling after getting off a ride (if you actually enjoyed it) is "LETS DO THAT AGAIN"
Gravity Group engineer throwing shade at RMC in the hybrid question 😂
Formula Rossa goes 149mph
Korey makes my freakin favorite rides
love it when people love what they do!!
So cool! Thank your for the interview! A dark ride designer would be great to have too! Thank you WIRED!
He says in the first question that the fastest coaster in the world is Kingda Ka…and while Kingda Ka is the tallest it’s not the fastest. Fastest is Formula Rossa in Abu Dhabi. Both records are about to be overtaken by Falcon’s Flight in Saudi.
A taller and faster roller coaster is currently under construction in Saudi Arabia. It will be over 600 feet tall with a 519-foot drop and a top speed of 155.3 mph.
Loved every minute of this video! More with Korey please!
Kingda Ka isn't the fastest in the world though? Formula Rossa has that record….
Didn't he get the fastest coaster in the world wrong?
2:14 Europa Park made it to WIRED
Is it possible to create a roller coster for bigger (fluffy) people?? If yes, how? If not, why not?
Mackprodukt!
@15:16 I believe you bro and we thank you 😊 🤘🏿🫡😂
That's a "Montaña Rusa" for us Spanish Speakers, in refference to those Russian Slides.
My thing with carnivals/fairs that constantly tear down and put up rides is the fasteners. As someone who was in industrial sales for 7.5 years and sold millions of fasteners, how often are they replaced? Bolts stretch, continually reusing a bolt reduces its tensile strength, eventually it will break. Any bolt in a critical application (like keeping a ride together) should never be reused. There are a ton of fasteners on any given ride and I don't think they aren't replaced every time. They wouldn't make any money if they were, so is it a once a year thing? Quarterly? When it breaks?