Radial Force on a Spinning Merry-Go-Round

[lizzyb]

what is "radial force"?

Hi. I have a HW question that asks me to find the "radial force" rerquired for someone to stay on a spinning merry-go-round. What is the radial force? thanx.

 

[Doc Al]

Radial just means along the direction of a radius of the circle--toward the center. (Radial as opposed to tangential.) FYI, "centripetal" means "toward the center" also.

 

[lizzyb]

Thank you; F_r = m omega^2 r.

Is it possible to use TeX mathematical expressions on this forum?

 

[Doc Al]

Absolutely:
$$F_r = m \omega^2 r$$

Read more about LaTex here: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=8997"