Question

Earth’s equatorial radius is about 6378 km. What is the centripetal acceleration experienced by a person standing at the Equator due to Earth’s rotation? (Answer using SI units)

Imagine the same person standing at the Equator of planet X, which has the same radius and mass as the Earth, but a shorter, 8-hour long day. What is the centripetal acceleration experience by this person? Based on your calculations, how does the person’s weight differ between the two locations?

The Earth orbits the Sun at an average distance of 149.6 x 10⁶ km. The orbit is nearly circular. The period of one revolution is 365.26 days. Find the average centripetal acceleration of planet Earth in its orbit around the Sun.

The London Eye, one of the largest Ferris Wheels, was recently built near the bank of the river Thames in London. It has a diameter of 394 feet and it takes 30 minutes for a complete rotation. What is the centripetal force experienced by a 150 lb person sitting in one of the passenger capsules?

Answer 1