Falling at the Fair
Dave Larsen’s piece on the Los Angeles County Fair (“At 58, L.A. Fair Shows No Signs of Aging,” Sept. 16) contained an error that could dull the appeal of the Falling Star ride, which drops its riders from an 80-foot altitude.
The error is in the reported speed the riders fall, 32 feet per second. Actually, the speed they fall is 32 feet per second per second. This means gravity speeds up these thrill seekers 32 feet per second for every second they fall.
However, if I were a fairgoer with a queasy stomach, I think I would avoid the ride at either speed.
PAUL M. THIELE
Los Angeles
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