4th Dimension Coaster - a coaster with cars that spin on a horizontal axis.

Angle of Descent - the steepest angle experienced during on the ride in the direction of travel. This figure is not for track banking or the lift hill angle.

Batwing - formed by the exit of an Dive Loop going directly into a Immelmann. The two elements are positioned as if one is a mirror image of the other. The train exits the element parallel to its entry and in the opposite direction.

Bobsled Coaster - designed like a bobsled run -- without a fixed track. The train travels freely through a trough.

Capacity - the highest number of riders per hour a roller coaster is capable of assuming the ride is using all of its trains.

Cobra Roll - formed by the exit of an Immelmann going directly into a Dive Loop. The two elements are positioned as if one is a mirror image of the other. The train exits the element parallel to its entry and in the opposite direction.

Cyclone - roller coaster whose track layout is designed after the legendary Coney Island Cyclone.

Drop - the greatest continuous drop experienced on the roller coaster.

Enclosed Coaster - a roller coaster built inside a structure intended solely for the ride. This structure often imparts a theme or houses special effects.

Family Coaster - a small roller coaster designed for young riders, but adults may comfortably ride also.

Flying Coaster - a roller coaster ridden while parallel with the track.

Height - the structure's greatest height measured from the ground to the track level. Railings, flagpoles and such are not counted as part of the roller coaster's height.

Immelmann - named after German pilot Max Immelmann who flew in WWI. The maneuver starts like the first half of a traditional vertical loop. When the train is near the loop's apex it will be inverted and heading back in the direction it entered. Rather than completing the loop in the traditional way, the train rolls on its axis becoming right-side-up while simultaneously turning away from the loop. The result is the train exiting the maneuver in the opposite direction it came. This is a very similar element to the Sidewinder. In the case of the Sidewinder the after apex turn is sharper and the maneuver is exited higher and nearly 90° to the right or left of direction it was entered. When a Immelmann is traveled in reverse it is called a Dive Loop.

Inclined Loop - a traditional vertical loop tilted a bit from being vertical.

Inversion - when a part of a track goes up-side-down.

Inversions - the physical number of inversions on a roller coaster. This will be half the number traveled on a shuttle roller coaster with inversions. To counted as an inversion the element must turn rides a full 180° upside-down.

Inverted - a roller coaster which uses trains traveling beneath, rather than on top of, the track. Unlike a suspended roller coaster, an inverted roller coaster's trains are rigidly attached to the track.

Kiddie Coaster - a small roller coaster designed solely for children.

Length - the roller coaster's physical course length as measured if a line existed between the rails. Transfer tracks are not included in this figure.

LIM Launched Coaster - LIM (Linear Induction Motor) is a form of electro-magnetic propulsion. They replace a traditional lift hill and do not contain any moving parts. Typically LIM systems launch the roller coaster from the station extremely quickly.

Mine Train Coaster - a coaster designed to give the experience of riding a runaway mine train. They usually follow the terrain closely and make small - but quick - drops and turns.

Operating - the roller coaster is open to the public. Maintenance or off-season periods do not change a roller coaster's status from 'Operating'.

Pipeline Coaster - a coaster where riders are positioned between the rails instead of above or below.

Roll Over - formed by the exit of an Immelmann going directly into a Dive Loop. The two elements are positioned as if one is rotated 180 degrees from the other. The train exits the element parallel to its entry and in the same direction.

Saxophone - The saxophone inversion consists of basically two hairpin turns traveled vertically. During the first hairpin the car essentially falls over an edge and continues to curve downward - past vertical until it is upside-down and horizontal with the track above. After traveling horizontally in this inverted position for a bit, the train enters what resembles the second half of a traditional vertical loop, thus returning the car to an upright position. The second half of the inversion tends to have a larger diameter than the first. Tracing this inversion from the point where the train changes from right-side-up to the point where it returns to right-side-up creates a shape that looks like a saxophone turned 90 degrees.

SBNO - an acronym for Standing But Not Operating.

Sidewinder - a sidewinder starts like the first half of a traditional vertical loop. When the train is near the loop's apex it will be inverted and heading back in the direction it entered. Rather than completing the loop in the traditional way, the train rolls on its axis becoming right-side-up while simultaneously turning away from the loop. The result is the train exiting the maneuver almost nearly 90° to the right or left of direction it was entered. This is a very similar element to the Immelman. In the case of the Immelmann the after apex turn is not as sharp and the maneuver is exited lower and nearly in the direction it was entered.

Sit Down Coaster - a traditional roller coaster ridden while sitting down.

Suspended Coaster - a roller coaster using trains which travel beneath the track and pivot on a swinging arm from side to side, exaggerating the track's banks and turns.

Twin Coasters - a roller coaster with two tracks. The tracks often follow a similar course, allowing the trains to race with each other.

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