Fairground wheel Kinematics Question

  • Thread starter Thread starter james_rich
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Kinematics Wheel
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a kinematics problem involving a fairground wheel rotating in a vertical plane, specifically focusing on calculating the speed and velocity of carriages traveling along a circular path with a diameter of 40m, completing one revolution in 3.5 minutes.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate speed using distance and time, while expressing uncertainty about how to find velocity in the context of circular motion. Some participants clarify the distinction between total distance and displacement in their responses.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring different interpretations of how to calculate velocity, with some suggesting that displacement should be considered as the diameter rather than the total distance traveled. There is no explicit consensus, but guidance has been offered regarding the definitions of speed and velocity.

Contextual Notes

The original poster identifies as a beginner and expresses uncertainty about the implications of circular motion on their calculations. There are edits indicating a reconsideration of the approach to calculating velocity.

james_rich
Messages
23
Reaction score
0
A fairground wheel is rotating in a vertical plane and carriages travel round a circle of diameter 40m at a constant speed. The carriages complete one revolution in 3.5min
I need to calculate the speed of the carriage from the top of the wheel to the bottom:

Circumference = 2 pi r
= 125.7m

top of wheel to bottom is therefore half this: 62.8m

Convert 3.5mins to seconds = 210s
half revolution = 105s

speed = distance/time = 62.8/105

speed = 0.6ms-1

I think this is right! :-s I'm a beginner!
------------------------------------------

The problem I'm having is that i have to find the velocity aswell...but am unsure how the distance affects the result in circular motion!

Please help me!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Edit that might be too complicated for what you're looking for. Velocity is defined as the change in distance over the change in time. It doesn't matter HOW you get to a place just what that place is at the end.

Edit #2 I didn't plug your numbers into a calculator but the method you used looks right. Velocity is simple displacement/time though not total distance traveled over time.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Does this mean that i don't have to use the circumference as the displacement? basically i just take the distance between the top of the wheel to the bottom of the wheel (the diameter 40m)?

e.g.

velocity = displacement/time
= 40m/105s

v = 0.38ms-1
 
It is my belief that that is correct.
 
Woohoo! thanks for your help!
 

Similar threads

2 more questions related to Circular Motion and Speed
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
5K
Projectile, and uniform circular motion questions
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
7K
How High Are You After 21 Seconds on a Ferris Wheel?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
10K