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A student rides a Ferris wheel and moves with a constant speed making a vertical

ID: 1363857 • Letter: A

Question

A student rides a Ferris wheel and moves with a constant speed making a vertical circular trajectory of radius R = 35 m. During the motion the student's seat remains in upright position. Three student's positions are depicted in the figure. At the top of the circle (position 1) the student feels lighter and her apparent weight is WI = 520 N. At the bottom of the circle (position 3) the student feels heavier and her apparent weight is W3 = 560 N. Determine,

1) the time it takes for the Ferris wheel to make one revolution

2) the magnitudes of the normal force and the (static) friction force which the seat exerts on the student at the position 2.

Explanation / Answer

mg - m v^2/35 =520 N

mg + m v^2/35 =560 N

2*m v^2/35 =40

time = 2pi * 35 / w

normal force = mv^2 /r =20N from left to right

mg from bottom seat =540 N

net normal = 540.370243444 N

no frictional force will be applied