Understanding Newton's Law: Motion of a Bird in a Rotating Frame of Reference

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on understanding the motion of a bird observed from a stationary frame (the CN Tower) while accounting for the rotating frame of reference of a merry-go-round. Participants clarify that the observer's perspective must be stationary, leading to confusion about the dual frames of reference presented in the question. The key takeaway is that to satisfy Newton's laws, one must consider the effects of rotation on the observed motion of the bird, which complicates the analysis. The conversation highlights the importance of clearly defining reference frames in physics problems.

PREREQUISITES
  • Newton's Laws of Motion
  • Concept of Reference Frames
  • Rotational Dynamics
  • Basic Kinematics
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the effects of Coriolis force in rotating reference frames
  • Learn about inertial vs. non-inertial frames of reference
  • Explore graphical methods for representing motion in physics
  • Investigate the implications of rotating frames on Newton's laws
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding motion dynamics in different reference frames, particularly in rotational contexts.

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An observer standing on the observation deck of the CN tower watches a bird fly by a rotating merry go round on the ground. Draw the path of the bird's flight as seen by the observer, with the merry go round as the frame of reference. In order to account for the motion of the bird using the merry go round frame of reference, what must be introduced to satisfy Newton's law?

I included the diagram. This question should be easy but it is the way it is worded that throws me off. My initial thought was to connect each interval from the merry go round to the birds path, but I wanted to verify that this was right.
 

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Wait, wait, what?

"Draw the path of the bird's flight as seen by the observer [standing on the observation deck of the CN tower]." The CN tower is stationary, right? So we have to draw the path of the bird in a stationary reference frame (the observer's on the CN tower).

"With the merry go round as the frame of reference." So this is a rotating reference frame... But we already decided on the reference frame! What's going on?

cookiemonster
 
exactly!
I don't understand how there can be 2 frames of reference. That is exactly how it is written in the book.
Does this question seem to be incorrect?
 

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