Circular Motion of an amusement park ride

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the physics of circular motion as experienced in The Roundup amusement park ride, which features a rotating ring with a diameter of 15.9 meters. The ring completes a rotation every 4.5 seconds, resulting in a velocity of 8.82 m/s for riders. To determine the forces acting on a rider with a mass of 69 kg, participants emphasize the importance of drawing a free-body diagram to visualize the forces at play, specifically the gravitational force and the normal force exerted by the ride at both the top and bottom of the circular path.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of circular motion principles
  • Knowledge of free-body diagrams
  • Familiarity with Newton's laws of motion
  • Basic calculations involving mass, velocity, and radius
NEXT STEPS
  • Calculate the normal force at the top of the circular motion using the formula: Normal Force = Weight - Centripetal Force
  • Calculate the normal force at the bottom of the circular motion using the formula: Normal Force = Weight + Centripetal Force
  • Explore the concept of centripetal acceleration and its role in circular motion
  • Investigate the effects of varying mass and radius on the forces experienced in circular motion
USEFUL FOR

Students studying physics, educators teaching circular motion concepts, and amusement park ride designers interested in the dynamics of ride mechanics.

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In an amusement park ride called The Roundup, passengers stand inside a 15.9 m diameter rotating ring. After the ring has acquired sufficient speed, it tilts into a vertical plane

(a) Suppose the ring rotates every 4.5 s. If a rider's mass is 69 kg, with how much force does the ring push on her at the top of the ride?

How much force the does the ring push on her at the bottom of the ride?




I tried to use Min. Force of Gravity = mv^2/r


I ended up with 8.82 m/s for velocity and I solved for the 3rd question (not included) but I'm not sure what to do with these two problems.
 
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You need to draw a free-body diagram first. From this you will understand the forces acting on the rider.
 

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