Question

A Ferris wheel is a vertical, circular amusement ride with radius 8 m. Riders sit on seats that swivel to remain horizontal. The Ferris wheel rotates at a constant rate, going around once in 8 s. Consider a rider whose mass is 54 kg. (Pls note answers in terms of vectors)

A) What is the vector force exerted by the seat on the rider at the bottom of the ride?

B) What is the Vector force exerted at the top of the ride?

Answer 1

(a) At the bottom from the FBD we can write

where r is the radius = 8 m
m is mass of the rider = 54 kg
T is the time period = 8 s
V is the velocity

Now putting all the values

On solving we get

Hence this will be force exerted by the seat on the rider.
(b)
Now at the top from the FBD we can write

On putting the values , we get

R = 263.276 N