One, two, three... Goooooooh!
一、二、三……出发咯!
Slide down the slope.
沿着斜坡滑下去。
Hit the pool with a splash.
“扑通”一声掉进泳池。
Water-slides might seem simple.
水滑梯看起来可能很简单。
But every turn and drop is carefully planned.
但每一个转弯和下滑都经过精心设计。
People who design water-slides understand fun... and science.
设计水滑梯的人既懂得如何制造乐趣……也懂科学。
They make sure rides are exciting and safe.
他们确保游玩既刺激又安全。
Let's dive into the physics of water-slides.
让我们来探究水滑梯背后的物理原理吧。
The earth's gravity is what makes slides work.
让滑梯运作的是地球引力。
It pulls all objects toward the earth's centre.
它将所有物体拉向地球中心。
Water keeps the fun flowing.
水让滑行变得更顺畅有趣。
It makes riders slide more quickly by reducing friction.
它通过减少摩擦让人滑得更快。
The body moves more easily against a wet slide.
人在湿滑的滑梯上滑动得更加顺畅。
But speed isn't always exciting.
但速度本身不一定就刺激。
For example, bus passengers on a highway don't squeal “Wheeeeeeeee!”
比如,在高速公路上的公交车乘客不会尖叫“哇啊啊啊!”
Yet they're travelling about 65 miles per hour.
但他们的时速大约是每小时65英里(约105公里)。
That's the speed of a trip down the world's fastest water-slide.
这也是世界最快水滑梯的速度。
So why are water-slides more fun than buses?
那为什么滑水梯比坐公交更好玩?
Scientists say people enjoy the feeling of acceleration.
科学家说,人们喜欢加速的感觉。
It's a change in the speed or direction of an object.
加速指的是物体速度或方向的变化。
Top-Speed Thrills: Summit Plummet
极速刺激:高峰垂降
The steeper the slide, the faster the ride.
滑梯越陡,速度越快。
Summit Plummet is in Florida.
“高峰垂降”在佛罗里达。
This waterslide is 12 storeys high.
这个水滑梯有12层楼那么高。
It's so steep riders can't see where they're going.
它陡到让人看不到前方的轨道。
One moment they're chilling at the top.
上一秒他们还在顶端放松,
Seconds later, they're hurtling downhill at highway speed.
下一秒就以高速向下冲刺。
That's some super acceleration.
这就是超级加速的快感。
Summit Plummet clocks each rider's speed.
“高峰垂降”会记录每位乘客的速度。
Many people descend at around 60 miles per hour.
很多人下滑的速度大约是每小时60英里(约97公里)。
Riders go down at different speeds.
每个人的下滑速度都不同。
Size affects how a human body travels on a slide.
人体的体型会影响在滑梯上的滑行方式。
So does the way a rider sits.
坐姿也会影响滑行。
Designers use computers.
设计师们使用计算机辅助设计。
They do a lot of testing.
他们进行大量测试。
They make sure rides will be safe for different people.
他们确保不同的人都能安全地游玩。
High-Tech Turns: Space Twister
高科技旋转:太空旋风
Want to plunge into another world?
想要进入另一个世界吗?
Try the Space Twister in Austria.
来试试奥地利的“太空旋风”吧。
Riders wear virtual reality headsets.
乘客会佩戴虚拟现实(VR)头盔。
They pick an adventure.
他们可以选择一场冒险。
They can blast through outer space.
可以穿越外太空,
Or they can voyage through dragons’ caves.
也可以探险龙穴秘境。
The Space Twister is a curvy slide.
“太空旋风”是一个弯曲的滑梯。
Riders whip side to side through turns.
乘客在转弯时从一侧甩到另一侧。
They feel the thrill of acceleration.
他们能感受到加速的快感。
Their bodies bank around corners.
身体在转弯时会向滑梯边缘倾斜。
That means they glide up the sides of the slide.
这意味着他们会沿着滑梯边缘滑行。
Its shape must be designed to keep different riders safely inside.
它的形状必须确保各种体型的乘客都能安全地滑行。
Sliding into the Future
滑向未来
Designers continue to dream up new water-slide wonders.
设计师们不断创造出新的水滑梯奇迹。
The Scorpion's Tail is in Wisconsin.
“蝎子尾巴”位于威斯康星州。
Riders zip through loops.
乘客会快速通过环形滑道。
The loops are almost vertical.
这些环道几乎是垂直的。
The SlideWheel in China spins like a Ferris wheel.
中国的“滑轮”像摩天轮一样旋转。
Riders zoom through its water-slide tubes as the wheel turns.
当“轮子”旋转时,乘客在滑道中飞速穿梭。
Is there a water-slide you'd like to ride that hasn't been built?
有没有一种你想坐、但还没被建造出来的水滑梯?
Study physics.
那就去学习物理吧。
You could be in line for a job as a water-slide designer.
你也许就能成为一名水滑梯设计师!
==
One, two, three... Gooooooohhh! Slide 'down the slope. Hit the pool with a splash. Water-slides might seem simple. But every turn and drop is carefully planned. People who design water-slides understand fun... and science. They make sure rides are exciting and safe.
Let's dive into the physics of water-slides. The earth's gravity is what makes slides work. It pulls all objects toward the earth's centre. Water keeps the fun flowing. It makes riders slide more quickly by reducing friction, The body moves more easily against a wet slide.
But speed isn't always exciting. For example, bus passengers on a highway don't squeal “ Wheeeeeeeee!” Yet they're travelling about 65 miles per hour. That's the speed of a trip down the world's fast water-slide. So why are water-slides more fun than buses? Scientists say people enjoy the feeling of acceleration. It's a change in the speed or direction of an object.
Top-Speed Thrills: Summit Plummet
The steeper the slide, the faster the ride. Summit Plummet is in Florida. This waterslide is 12 storeys high. It's so steep riders can't see where they're going. One moment they're chilling at the top. Seconds later, they're hurtling downhill at highway speed. That's some super acceleration.
Summit Plummet clocks each rider's speed. Many people descend at around 60 miles per hour. Riders go down at different speeds. Size affects how a human body travels on a slide. So does the way a rider sits. Designers use computers. They do a lot of testing. They make sure rides will be safe for different people.
High-Tech Turns: Space Twister
Want to plunge into another world? Try the Space Twister in Austria. Riders wear virtual reality headsets. They pick an adventure. They can blast through outer space. Or they can voyage through dragons’caves.
The Space 'Twister is a curvy slide. Riders whip side to side through turns. They feel the thrill of acceleration. Their bodies bank around corners. That means they glide up the sides of the slide. Its shape must be designed to keep different riders safely inside.
Sliding into the Future
Designers continue to dream up new water-slide wonders, The Scorpion's Tail is in Wisconsin. Riders zip through loops. The loops are almost vertical. The SlideWheel in China spins like a Ferris wheel. Riders zoom through its water-slide tubes as the wheel turns.
Is there a water-slide you'd like to ride that hasn't been built? Study physics. You could be in line for a job as a water-slide designer.