Sorry I can't edit the initial post. Mass (gondola + tube) = 12,000 kg, length (tube) = 15 m and the diameter of the gondola = 6 m. I don't think I have enough information to estimate the rotational inertia, I'm assuming that I would need to have the mass of the gondola and tube separate, but...
I think I understand now. If I am calculating the tension force (T=mv^2/r + mg) at the bottom I would use the mass of the gondola and passengers combined, but if I am calculating the reaction force (Fn=mv^2/r + mg) I would only use the mass of the passenger. Is this correct? Thanks
Also how would you estimate the rotational inertia of an object, since for each object there is a different equation and for some there is no equation (could I just use 2 equations one for a rod and the other for a hoop and add them together?). I have the mass and length of the object.
in this video she says that the tension force on the cup (kind of like the gondola) is equal to the reaction force that the cup exerts on the water (kind of like the passengers)
At the bottom of the circle, the tension force is greater than the weight force as there must be a net force acting towards the centre to provide the centripetal force causing the centripetal acceleration and thus the circular motion. In the equation above (T = mv^2/r + mg) I only have the mass...