Question

The figure below shows a Ferris wheel that rotates four times each minute. It carries each car around a circle of diameter 16.0 m.
What force (magnitude and direction) does the seat exert on a 43.0-kg child when the rider is halfway between top and bottom?
magnitude N
direction

Answer 1

Taking into account both weight and centrifugal force, the sought force has the value

$f = m(g^2 + (\omega^2r)^2)^{0.5} = 43(100 + (0.18\cdot8)^2)^{0.5} = 434 N$

and directed at an angle spaced from the vertical by

$\phi = \frac{\omega^2r}{g} =$ 0.14 radians.