2007-02-06 11:32:00 · 4 answers · asked by Lo 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
OK if you're at top of ferris wheel ride and your m*v^2/r (centripetal force) is greater than m*g (your weight), you won't fall out. At bottom your weight increases (m*g+m*v^2/r) so you experience an increased weight. For most people 4*g is the max limit they can safely experience,(without risking blackout), so that sets limits on the speed of the ride and the radius of curvature of the track. I believe that 15g turns are routinely experienced by military jet pilots though..
2007-02-06 13:36:04 · answer #1 · answered by troothskr 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A ferris wheel is approximately a balanced wheel normally driven by a chain drive from a motor on the ground. Other than balancing forces, which are ignored or overcome with the drive, not a lot of simple physics is involved.
2007-02-06 19:36:53 · answer #2 · answered by Mike1942f 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about rotational motion (the ferris wheel itself) vs circular motion (the riders on the ferris wheel)?
Centripetal motion, Gravitational Potential Energy and Kinetic Energy are very popular topics in amusement park physics... not to mention kinematics!
2007-02-06 19:42:05 · answer #3 · answered by OtherResources 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try these sites:
2007-02-07 05:29:02 · answer #4 · answered by Lydia 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋