Question

A Ferris wheel with radius 14.0 m is turning about a horizontal axis through its center, as shown in the figure below. The linear speed of a passenger on the rim is constant and equal to 6.30m/s.

A) What is the magnitude of the passenger's acceleration as she passes through the lowest point in her circular motion? Express your answer in meters per second squared to three significant figures.

B) What is the direction of the passenger's acceleration as she passes through the lowest point in her circular motion?

C)What is the magnitude of the passenger's acceleration as she passes through the highest point in her circular motion?

D) What is the direction of the passenger's acceleration as she passes through the highest point in her circular motion?

E) How much time does it take the Ferris wheel to make one revolution?

Answer 1

Here

v = 6.30 m/s

radius , r = 14 m

A)

at the lowest point

acceleration , a = v^2/r

a = 6.30^2/14

a = 2.835 m/s^2

the magnitude of acceleration at the lowest is 2.835 m/s^2

B)
at the lowest point , the direction of acceleration is Upwards ,

as the accleration is towards the radius of wheel

C)

at the highest point ,

acceleration , a = v^2/r

a = 6.30^2/14

a = 2.835 m/s^2

the magnitude of acceleration at the highest is 2.835 m/s^2

d)
at the highest point , the direction of acceleration is downwards ,

as the accleration is towards the radius of wheel

e)

time taken for one revolution = 2 * pi * r/v

time taken for one revolution = 2 * pi * 14/6.3

time taken for one revolution = 13.96 s

the time taken for one revolution is 13.96 s