# Circular Motion and Force Problem

1. Mar 22, 2010

### cheerspens

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

A man sitting on the edge of his seat on a Ferris Wheel has a mass of 50.0 kg. The Ferris Wheel has a radius r=30m and the ferris wheel completes a single revolution every 20 seconds. Find the force between the man and the chair.

2. Relevant equations

FNET=ma
Fg=mg

$$\tau$$=2$$\pi$$r/v
a=v2/r

3. The attempt at a solution

I found the force of gravity on the man to be 490N. I think the period is 0.05rev/sec so I set up the $$\tau$$ equation to be 0.05=2$$\pi$$(30)/v. I solved for V however and get 3769.91 m/s. It seems like too big of a number. This then gives me a very large acceleration of 473740.71m/s2.
I need to solve for a to plug into my FNET equation in order to find the force on the chair on man.
What am I doing wrong to get these large numbers?

2. Mar 22, 2010

### Kabbotta

There are two forces that act on the man. The first is the constant, but if you correctly wrote out the question the second force changes directions with the man's position as he rotates around the ferris wheel.

So the force that the man feels as a push from the seat will depend on where he is as he rotates around the wheel. The Force would be a function of $$\theta$$

Know someone interested in this topic? Share this thread via Reddit, Google+, Twitter, or Facebook