roller coaster: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Oct. 26, 2026

News •

Higher, Faster, Gnarlier: Have Roller Coasters Become Too Extreme? • Oct. 22, 2026, 5:05 AM ET (New York Times)

Photos and Videos

Six Flags Magic Mountain: roller coaster

early roller coaster

The safety chain dog system in roller coasters

How roller coasters stay on their tracks

How the corkscrew roller coaster works

How electromagnets propel roller coasters to high speeds

Witness the importance of precision while designing a roller coaster

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

corkscrew safety chain dog underfriction wheel Russian Mountains Rough Rider Runaway Mine Ride Today in History—June 16: The “Scenic Railway” Roller Coaster Opens Where Was the First Roller Coaster Invented?railroad amusement park Ferris wheel

Key People

How the corkscrew roller coaster works

Ron Toomer

American engineer and roller coaster designer

Hagia Sophia. Istanbul, Turkey. Constantinople. Church of the Holy Wisdom. Church of the Divine Wisdom. Mosque.

Architecture: The Built World