Calculating Centripetal Force on a Child Riding a Ferris Wheel

[leisiminger]

A 40kg child takes a ride on a Ferris Wheel that rotates 4 times each minute and has a radius of 9m.

I firgured that angular velocity is .419 rads/sec
I figured that tangential velocity is 3.77m/sec
I figured that centripetal acceleration is 1.58m/sec^2

Questions
a)What force in N does the seat exert on the child at the lowest point of the Ferris wheel?

b)What force in N does the seat exert on the child at the highest point of the Ferrish Wheel? Keep in mind that radially inward in the positive direction

 

[LowlyPion]

A 40kg child takes a ride on a Ferris Wheel that rotates 4 times each minute and has a radius of 9m.

I firgured that angular velocity is .419 rads/sec
I figured that tangential velocity is 3.77m/sec
I figured that centripetal acceleration is 1.58m/sec^2

Questions
a)What force in N does the seat exert on the child at the lowest point of the Ferris wheel?

b)What force in N does the seat exert on the child at the highest point of the Ferrish Wheel? Keep in mind that radially inward in the positive direction

Draw a force diagram at the bottom and the top.

F = m*a - so whatever acceleration the mass is experiencing should translate to the seat shouldn't it?

 

[leisiminger]

i figure for the bottom its
N= mg +mv^2
-------------
r

and the top would be

N= mg - mv^2
----------------
r

 

[LowlyPion]

i figure for the bottom its
N= mg +mv^2
-------------
r

and the top would be

N= mg - mv^2
----------------
r

I think that's right, but your post displays unclearly.

N = m*g + m*v²/r

So if that is your first one and similarly for the second ... yes.