Question

A 60 kg Gila monster on a merry-go-round is traveling in a circle with a radius of 3 m, rotating at a rate of 9 revolutions/minute.
(A) What acceleration does the monster experience?



(B) What is the net force?



(C) If the Gila monster crawls inwards to a distance of 1 m from the center, what is the new value of the force the Gila monster experiences?

Answer 1

PART A)

mass of the monster = 60 kg

radius = 3 m

frequency = 9 rev/min = 9/60 rev/s

now we can find the angular speed as

$\omega = 2 \pi f$

$\omega = 2 \pi (9/60) = 0.94 rad/s$

now the acceleration is given by

$a_c = \omega^2 R$

$a_c = (0.94)^2(3) = 2.66 m/s^2$

PART B)

now as per Newton's law we have

$F_c = ma_c$

from above all values we have

$F_c = 60(2.66) = 159.9 N$

Part C)

now monster moves inside at radius R = 1 m

so now centripetal acceleration is given as

$a_C = \omega^2 R$

$a_C = 0.94^2(1) = 0.88 m/s^2$

now the force experience by monster

$F_C = ma_C$

$F_c = 60(0.88) = 52.8 N$