Scorpion

I normally do not share roller coasters' speeds and G-force measurements.  I do this for several reasons.  First off, many times the numbers quoted by parks or enthusiasts are not accurate.  Amusement parks, especially in the past, tend to exaggerate their rides' speeds.  Secondly, many variables such as air temperature, wind speed, and even the weight inside the trains, affect a coaster's top speed.  Older technology was rather crude in measuring G-forces, and even today's more sophisticated measurements are often not useful because of the variation of forces imposed on the different seats in a train.  Also, there is a large difference between a quick jolt of G-forces versus a prolonged, sustained load imposed on riders.

Many people cite a 3.5 G-force on Scorpion, but no one can state where they obtained this figure.  I read a newspaper article from the 1980s where a high-school physics class did a field trip to the park.  The students made G-meters by placing weights and springs in tubes.  If this is the origin of the 3.5 G figure, it is not very precise.

Even if we can't precisely state the ride's velocity or forces, Scorpion is still fun.  And you will pull some rather heavy G-forces as you enter and exit this circular loop!

©2021 by Joel A. Rogers.