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Posted

Hey. I'm a senior now at high school, so I've been looking for colleges and such. My question is this: what major(s) would I need to go into the field of rollercoaster design, or something along those lines? Also, any suggestions on what college to go to? (sorry if this is in the wrong section...)

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Posted

Engineering. Most probably Mechanical Engineering, Engineering physics, and I am sure there is even a bit of electrical engineering. As for specific schools that have Roller Coaster Engineering majors, I doubt they exist. I go to school at Worcester Polytechnic Institue, which is an engineering school, and study Mechanical engineering. There is a fair amount of math, and physics involved, and there is always those problems that profs ive you with the roller coaster. Hope that answers your question. Other top of the line engineering schools include MIT (Massachussetts Institute of Technology), Carnegie Mellon, CalTech, CalPoly, RPI, RIT, and most state schools have good engineering programs such as UMich, UConn, and the like.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Unfortunatly, roller coaster engineering isnt exactly a field where there is a lot of demand, so its probably hard to get a job in that field. But good luck. I am going to school to build spacecraft.... WOOT!!!

 

Rob

Posted

Yeah. I know its hard to find the right major. Actually, so far Ive been hearing civil engineering from alot of people. Mechanical is new to me. Oh well, if I cant get in for this career, I can always take computer programing and design video games (coaster sims perhaps?)

Edit: as for schools, UC has a pretty good program for engineering, but I havent checked for mechanical yet. Same goes for Miami University (Oxford Ohio...)

Posted

I have actually contacted all of the major manufactuers of roller coaster, at one point in time to ask that very question, because that is what I orginally wanted to do. They all informed me many different types of engineers actually work on the designing of a roller coaster. But the main type is mechinial engineers. The reason that I changed was the fact that there are so little jobs actually open in this field, and it would be so hard to get, and I really didn't wanna end up designing anything else so I changing my major. Also if you look at the profiles for the members of the Gravity Group it tells you what kind of degrees they all have.

Posted

Yes, there is some civil engineering involved in roller coasters, but civil engineering deals with things that dont move so they are restricted to the actual structure of the coaster (supports etc...). Mechanical engineers would work with the train, as well as the lift system and anything else that moves. Both civil engineers and mechanical engineers use stress analysis, so both majors would be able to calculate the track design and stresses. Electrical engineers would do anything that requires electricity, so they would do lift systems, would work on the trains if they require electricity, and other things that require electricity. So just about any engineering major would be used in coaster design. The only engineering majors that i can think of that would be unlikely to be used would be nuclear engineers, and I really cant think of much for a chemical engineer. So, find what you want to do within the engineering field and chances are it can be applied to coaster design.

 

Rob

Posted

I actually emailed GCI a few weeks ago about this, but I havent gotten a reply yet. I think I'll try to work with mechanical engineering, cuz Im looking at designing the car/track, not the supports or anything. I actualy hope Miami has a good class for this, because all signs point to Miami being my school of choice so far...Of course going to some out of state college might be nice (new scenery, but more importantly new parks to visit during spring/summer breaks) Either way, Im about to read that article. Thanks for everybody's help so far...

Edit: this part of the article summerizes what my parents want me to do (and I agree with) "I come up with basic ideas for the concept, and it is then over to others (architects, civil engineers, structural & mechanical engineers, etc. etc.)"

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

I can't offer any advice, but I did find browsing this site interesting yesterday - http://www.jfk.herts.sch.uk/class/science/science/rollerc/phys.htm

 

I can't get my head around calculations. I was probably good at algebra a few years ago at school, but then I had a breakdown and left before my GCSEs and a lot of stuff has wiped from memory. Things like that now fry my brain :? .

 

I like the simple height to length ratio. That's basically all I'd use to design by (with old style woodies, I'd get away with it.. in my own park, if I could have one!), though the lift would mess that up a bit as it contributes to length, but not "runaway" length.

 

Good luck to anyone serious enough to strive toward and commit to following a coaster engineering career. No way I could do it, unless a park wanted an old style coaster designed the old style way, and could get around regulations and insurance etc. to suit..!

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