Amusement park ride (circular motion)

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving circular motion, specifically related to an amusement park ride that utilizes a vertical spinning cylinder. The problem requires participants to analyze the forces acting on a person held against the wall of the cylinder and to derive the maximum period of revolution to prevent the person from falling.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between static friction and gravitational forces, questioning how to equate the maximum static friction force to the weight of the person. There are attempts to derive the formula for the maximum period of revolution, with some participants exploring the connection between period, velocity, and centripetal acceleration.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on how to approach the derivation of the period and have pointed out necessary corrections in calculations. There is an ongoing exploration of the relationships between the forces involved, and multiple interpretations of the problem are being considered.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework assignment, which includes specific parameters such as the radius of the cylinder and the coefficient of static friction. There is also a focus on understanding the implications of varying the rate of revolution on the forces acting on the person.

~christina~
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Homework Statement



An amusement park ride consists of a large vertical cylinder that spins about it's axis fast

enough that any person held up against the wall when the floor drops away. The

coeficient of static friction between the person and the wall is \mu_s and the

radius of the cylinder is R.

a) show that the maximum period of relvolution necessary to kep the person from falling is
T= (4 pi^2 R\mu_s /g) ^1/2

b) obtain a numerical value for T, taking R= 4.00m and \mu_s= 0.400. <br /> <br />How many revolutions per minute does the cylinder make?

c) If the rate of revolution of the cylinder is made to be somewhat larger, what happens

to the magnitude of each one of the forces acting on the person?

What happens to the motion of the person?

d) If instead the cylinder's rate of revolution is made to be somewhat smaller, what

happens to the magnitude of each of the forces acting on the person?

What happens in the motion of the person?


picture: http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/3765/19178363wb7.th.jpg

Homework Equations


F= ma= m(v^2/r) ?


The Attempt at a Solution



I have no idea how to explain a person's motion in this ammusement ride according to the forces..

a) I need help in this part

b)
R= 4.00m \mu_s= 0.400

T= (4 pi ^2 R \mu_s / g)^1/2

T= \sqrt{} (4 pi^2 (4.00m)(0.400) / 9.80m/s^2) = 6.44

Revolutions per min? I'm not sure how to get that


I think I'll tackle the the previous before I answer the rest
c)
d)




Help pleaase

Thank You very much :smile:
 
Last edited:
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Part a) requires a little bit of work but its not too difficult. The max force of static friction (f_{smax}=\mu_sN) for the person to just stay stuck on the wall without moving needs to be equal in magnitude to the persons weight (W=mg). The normal force of the person against the wall is just the centrifugal force.

F = \frac{mv^2}{r}

For part b) you've forgotten to take the square root of 6.44.

And i'll wait till you've posted your atempts to c) and d) :smile:
 
Kurdt said:
Part a) requires a little bit of work but its not too difficult. The max force of static friction (f_{smax}=\mu_sN) for the person to just stay stuck on the wall without moving needs to be equal in magnitude to the persons weight (W=mg). The normal force of the person against the wall is just the centrifugal force.
F = \frac{mv^2}{r}

a.) show that the maximum period of relvolution necessary to keep the person from falling is T= (4 pi^2 R\mu_s/g)^1/2


how do I relate what you said to get...T= (4 pi^2 R\mu_s/g)^1/2

I know that \sumFx= f_s max = \mu_s N = m(v^2/ r) = mg (you said the max force of static friction for the person to stay stuck on the wall without moving needs to be equal in magnitude to the person's weight mg)

I looked at what you said again and now I think...

f_s= \mu_s N = \mu_s (mv^2/r)= mg

I have no idea which is alright or if both are incorrect but I still don't see how I'd show that the maximum period of revolution necessary to keep the person from falling is that equation given when ..generally

T= 2 pi r/ v

ac= v^2/ r

I see from my book in a example that plugging the velocity after rearranging the T equation and plugging into the centripetal acceleration equation I can get

T= \sqrt{} 4pi^2 r/ ac however I still don't see how I can get the equation given for this particular problem from that..


For part b) you've forgotten to take the square root of 6.44.

oops.. 2.54s


I really really need help in the equation for a)

Thanks :smile:
 
~christina~ said:
a.)
I looked at what you said again and now I think...

f_s= \mu_s N = \mu_s (mv^2/r)= mg

I have no idea which is alright or if both are incorrect but I still don't see how I'd show that the maximum period of revolution necessary to keep the person from falling is that equation given when ..generally

T= 2 pi r/ v

You're on the right lines here. If you rearrange T=\frac{2\pi r}{v} for v and plug it into \mu_s (mv^2/r) = mg, then do a bit more rearranging to put it in the form T = ...
 

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