The science behind why roller coaster corkscrews are so beautiful

Ever wonder why the double corkscrew element on classic Arrow and Vekoma roller coasters are so pleasing to the eye? True, the entry and exit isn’t too pleasing to your neck, but there sure feels like there’s some artistry put in those curves.

Turns out, there’s a lot more math at work, too.

Whether it was done on purpose I can’t say, but the reason for their inherent beauty lies in the “Golden Spiral,” also known as the Fibonacci Sequence.

So what is it? Well, it’s a set of numbers discovered over 1,300 years ago by Italian mathematician, Leonardo de Pisa (aka Fibonacci). When plotted on a flat surface, it creates the “Golden Spiral” which occurs naturally in shells, flowers and apparently…roller coasters.

Check out this comparison of Cedar Point’s Corkscrew next to the Golden Spiral:

Now, I’m no fan of math (it’s why I went into communications) but this is pretty darn cool!

What do you think? Is your mind blown, too? Let me know in the comments below or on my social media channels!

September 8, 2020 | Categories: Amusement Parks, Theme Parks | Tags: amusement park, amusement parks, Arrow Development, arrow dynamics, beautiful, beauty, corkscrew, Fibonacci, Fibonacci Sequence, Golden Ratio, Golden Spiral, host, kris rowberry, kristopher rowberry, Leonardo de Pisa, math, roller coaster, roller coasters, science, theme park, theme parks, vekoma | Comments Off on The science behind why roller coaster corkscrews are so beautiful