Problem 5.8

Please wait for the animation to completely load.

In the animation, a Ferris wheel rotates at constant speed as shown (position is given in meters and time is given in minutes).  Each square represents a chair on the Ferris wheel.  Restart.

1. Draw the free-body diagram for a chair on the Ferris wheel when it is at the points (a), (b), (c), and (d).  
2. What forces act on a rider when the rider is at points (a), (b), (c), and (d)?
3. What is the acceleration of the rider when the rider is at points (a), (b), (c), and (d)?
4. If the rider has a mass of 100 kg, what is the size and direction of the net force on the rider at points (a), (b), (c), and (d)?

Script authored by Aaron Titus.
Problem authored by Wolfgang Christian and Mario Belloni.
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