The Incredible Machine
Everyone has a favorite attraction at an amusement park, and I am no different. However, unlike most people who seem to prefer roller coasters, my favorite ride is a little more gentle. Every time I go to Coney Island, Navy Pier, or the Santa Monica Pier, I absolutely have to ride the Ferris wheel.
The Ferris wheel is simple and yet also quite complex. That is, riding it is easy, but how it works is complicated. A series of carts are attached to a wheel, which is attached to a rim. That rim rotates vertically around an axis, and gravity keeps the carts upright. As simple as the ride seems, only advanced engineers can make safe and fun Ferris wheels.
What It Lacks in Thrills…
While the Ferris wheel is not as thrilling as a rollercoaster, it is still very exciting. The fact of being
high in the air makes it so much more entertaining than a lot of rides. I mean, how often do you hang from
that high up in daily life?
Nevertheless, I have to admit, I don’t seek Ferris wheels out because of their excitement. Rather,
I find them very relaxing. At the top of the Ferris wheel, you get beautiful sights of the park. You also get a
sense of calm that you don’t get in the hustle and bustle of the park below.
Additionally, Ferris wheels are also gorgeous to look at when they are lit up at night. In fact, the
original Ferris wheel was designed as much to be seen as to be ridden.
It Happened at the World’s Fair….
The first Ferris wheel was made by and named after George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. He
designed it for the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. It was the tallest attraction there, standing 264 feet high.
However, visitors to the fair were impressed by the size of the ride as well as the mechanics of it.
In 1893, anything that was not turned by hand was considered a sight to see. And the wheel, which was a
machine, was truly incredible to see. Further, as one visitor put it, the wheel was amazing because it
seemed to be missing support. That is, it did not look like it could stand on its own. And yet it did and
even rotated!
They Keep Reaching Higher and Higher…
Ferris wheel technology has only improved since then. Most of today’s Ferris wheels are much
larger than that first one. The largest in the world is the “Singapore Flyer,” which stands slightly taller than
twice what Ferris’s did!
Today, the Ferris wheel is the most common amusement park ride. But that does not mean you
should take them for granted. Instead, be thankful for Ferris’ invention. The next time you’re at an
amusement park, don’t just look up at the impressive wheel in the sky on your way to a newer attraction.
Take it for a spin
Solve the quiz and
Answer the following Question based on reading text
- In paragraph 2, the narrator says, “As simple as the ride seems, only advanced engineers can make
safe and fun Ferris wheels.” Can you think of any other machines that seem simple but actually are
not? List at least two and explain why they are not actually simple.
2.In paragraph 3, the narrator says, ” While the Ferris wheel is not as thrilling as a rollercoaster, it is still
very exciting .” Can you think of any other machines that are not “thrilling” but still “exciting”?
3. In the final section of the passage, we learn how Ferris wheels “keep reaching higher and higher.”
This seems to be a common trend among the developers of modern technology. What makes us
want to continually strive to create something bigger and better? Is this good? Discuss.