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How Roller Coasters Work

Related Article: Learn more about roller coasters

Roller coasters don't have engines, accelerators or brakes, So what makes roller coaster cars speed up, slow down and loop upside down? Get the inside track on the quintessential thrill ride.

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How Diesel Locomotives Work (1:15)

Trains have been around for hundreds of years, but now they use a new hybrid technology. See how diesel locomotives work in this HowStuffWorks video.

How Drawbridges Work (1:24)

A drawbridge is a bridge over a body of water that opens up to allow boats and ships to pass through. Watch this video from HowStuffWorks to learn how it works.

MythBusters: Big Rig Myths (4:24)

Is it possible for a bicycle to cruise in the wake of a big rig? The MythBusters get a bike and a semi and find out.

Build It Bigger: Kinetic Madness (1:57)

Roller coasters use physics to create breathtaking and terrifying thrills in amusement parks across the world. Watch a video from the Discovery Channel.

Cars Without Drivers (1:04)

Watch this video about smart cars on HowStuffWorks. Despite the technical promise, experts believe most people want to remain in control of their cars, and will only use some of the features, like self-parking and safety features. See how smart cars... More »

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Warbots: DARPA Grand Challenge (3:27)

By 2015, 1/3 of military transport vehicles will be autonomous. To promote research in this area, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) sponsors an annual "Grand Challenge" in the Mojave Desert.

Discoveries: Tearing Apart the Titans (6:18)

Decommissioning an oceangoing vessel is a big job. Learn more about decommissioning in this video.

Invention Nation: Motor Bike (1:42)

Check out how you can use less energy to make bicycling easier. Learn more about bicycling in this video.

How Roller Coasters Work (1:25)

Roller coasters don't have engines, accelerators or brakes, So what makes roller coaster cars speed up, slow down and loop upside down? Get the inside track on the quintessential thrill ride.

Olympic Bike (1:41)

From the archives of Discovery: See an Olympic bike in action in this video.

Boat Simulation (4:54)

From the archives of Discovery: Watch as this team of researchers experiments with a floating probe. Learn more about boat simulation.

How Segway Works (1:06)

The Segway human transporter combines a control system, a series of sensors and a motor system. Find out how it works in this video from HowStuffWorks.

How Drawbridges Work (1:24)

A drawbridge is a bridge over a body of water that opens up to allow boats and ships to pass through. Watch this video from HowStuffWorks to learn how it works.

How Diesel Locomotives Work (1:15)

Trains have been around for hundreds of years, but now they use a new hybrid technology. See how diesel locomotives work in this HowStuffWorks video.