Launch physics overview
Motors and hydraulics add speed fast — different systems trade acceleration shape, noise, and reliability.
A launch adds kinetic energy quickly. Unlike a lift, you feel acceleration horizontally (or up a shallow ramp) over seconds or fractions of a second.
Linear motors (LIM/LSM) push against magnetic fields — repeatable and common on multi-launch rides. Hydraulic or pneumatic catch cars grip the train and release at speed — often one violent burst.
Designers tune acceleration profile: a long gentle launch feels like a sports car pulling away; a short hydraulic shot feels like a slap.
Peak speed after launch still depends on what the layout does next — a flat straight bleeds energy to drag; an immediate hill converts speed into height.
Related guides
How launches work
LIM, LSM, hydraulic — different ways to shove a train from rest to serious speed.
Linear induction motors (LIM)
Alternating magnetic fields shove the train without touching it — the workhorse of many modern launches.
Flywheel launches
Store energy in a spinning mass, then dump it into the train in one burst — classic hydraulic acceleration feel.