Pendulum ride

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pendulum rides are amusement rides, where the ride experience is based on the motion of a fixed pendulum. These rides consist of an arm with an axle at the midpoint. One end of the arm is fitted with a passenger-carrying gondala, while the other is fitted with a heavy counterweight. The ride experience consists primarily of swinging back and forth, although some designs incorporate rotating gondalas or allow the ride to invert completely. Pendulum rides are propelled by one of two methods; a series of DC motors driving the axle, or using wheels underneath the gondala station to push the ride.

[edit] Pendulum Rides in Popular Culture

• A spoof of a Pendulum ride was featured in the South Park episode Cartman Joins NAMBLA. During a scene where Kenny's family visits an amusement park, there is a ride called the "John Denver Experience". During this ride, a "Magic Carpet" style system slowly lifts the passengers to full ride height, then without warning, flips over and repeatedly slams the passengers into the ground. The ride's finish leaves the passengers submerged upside down in a tank of water. The overture during this is "Leaving On A Jet Plane".

[edit] List of rides

Rides that can be considered pendulum rides include:

• Freak Out
• Frisbee
• Kamikaze
• Pirate Ship
• Ranger
• Topple Tower