Roller coaster friction problem?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the minimum coefficient of friction required to prevent falling off a spinning ride called the "Barrel of Fun." The ride operates as a vertical cylinder, and the problem involves determining the necessary friction after the floor drops out. Participants agree that finding the rotational velocity and converting it to acceleration is essential for solving the problem. One user calculated a coefficient of friction of 658.69, prompting a request for clarification on the calculation process. The conversation highlights the challenges students face with complex problems that exceed classroom instruction.
bohobelle
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Homework Statement


You're at the amusement park and your friend wants to go on the "Barrel of Fun," where the ride is a cylinder with a vertical axis. You stand against the wall and after the ride is spinning fast enough, the floor drops out beneath you. What is the minimum coefficient of friction necessary to keep you from falling down once the floor is gone? The ride takes two seconds per revolution.


Homework Equations


Moment of intertia of a cylinder = MR^2


The Attempt at a Solution


I honestly have no idea what I'm doing! My teacher tends to teach us one lesson in class and then give us a ridiculously complicated problem that we are not prepared to do for homework.

I think that you need to find rotational velocity and then transform that into acceleration, and then find friction from that, but I am not sure?
 
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Your thinking is correct.
 
voko said:
Your thinking is correct.

How would I get from acceleration to friction?
 
I got 658.69 as the coefficient of friction, does this seem correct?
 
Explain how you got that.
 
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