Why am I so much dizzier...?

Question

Why am I so much dizzier when I spin on the outside of a merry-go-round than if I were sitting in the center?

Answer 1

Because your angular momentum is greater. Because the radius is larger. (if you are looking to apply it to the angular momentum formula that's the reason)
In layman's terms, you're moving faster because the outside of the circle has a longer path than the inside of the circle but they both have to make a full rotation in the same amount of time. It's not the path lenght though, it's the speed that does it. You can tell because if you spin around in a circle on your feet you can still make yourself dizzy.
Why you get dizzy at all I'm not sure of. I just know that it has something to do with inner ear, which is one of the ways your body detects acceleration. In this case angular.

Answer 2

This is really a biology question, though there is a small physics element.
You get dizzy because the fluid in the balance structure in your inner ear that handles that (the "semicircular canals") gets shaken up and sends confused messages about your physical orientation to your brain.
Because you are moving faster at the outside of the merry-go-round than you are in the center (being further from the axis of rotation, your "angular momentum" is indeed greater, or put more simply, you move further in the same amount of time), the disruption to the fluids is that much greater, causing greater dizziness.
Try spinning on a twisted swing ... lots of fun, then you throw up.

Answer 3

More force of motion when on the outside. When on the inside, you're just moving around, not in a circle.

Also, the vision blur throws off your equilibrium.

Answer 4

the outside is longer in diameter

Answer 5

Because your web name is so long.

Answer 6

the inside is more stable

Answer 7

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A bELL jAR?