How Rollercoasters Affect Your Body | My TED-Ed Lesson

What really happens to your body when you’re strapped into a rollercoaster and hurtling through a 70-mph loop?

It’s more than just adrenaline — it’s physics, physiology, and psychology all packed into a few intense minutes. I had the opportunity to collaborate with TED-Ed as the educator behind How Rollercoasters Affect Your Body, an animated lesson that dives into the science behind what thrill rides do to our systems.

What You’ll Learn

In this short but dynamic lesson, we explore:

• How your body responds to the rapid changes in speed, direction, and force.

• What G-forces really are — and how they affect your blood flow and organs.

• The surprising way rollercoasters tap into your fight-or-flight instincts.

More than just thrills, rollercoasters are a controlled experiment in human physiology — a balancing act between fun and fundamental safety engineering.

Why This Lesson Matters

Understanding the physical impact of rollercoasters isn’t just fascinating trivia — it’s a glimpse into how our bodies react to extreme conditions, and how engineers and safety experts design attractions to push limits without crossing dangerous lines.

Whether you're a thrill-seeker or a curious learner, this video unpacks how these rides balance physics, psychology, and precision — and why safety is an invisible but critical part of the experience.

🎥 Watch the full TED-Ed animation below: