Question

A Ferris wheel has radius 4.0 m and makes one revolution every 30 s with uniform rotation. A woman who normally weighs 600 N is sitting on one of the benches attached at the rim of the wheel. What is her apparent weight (the normal force exerted on her by the bench) as she passes over the top of the Ferris wheel? A. 590 N
B. 600 N
C. 520 N
D. 0 N

Answer 1

Answer:

A) Apparent Weight = 590 N

Explanation:

As we know that frequency is given as

$f = \frac{1}{30}$

$f = 0.033 Hz$

now the angular speed is given as

$\omega = 2\pi f$

$\omega = 2\pi(0.033) = 0.21 rad/s$

now at the top position we will have

$mg - N = m\omega^2 R$

$N = mg - m\omega^2 R$

$N = 600 - \frac{600}{9.8}(0.21)^2(4.0)$

$N = 590 N$