Circular Motion Practice 3 Key

Name: _______________________
Use -10 m/s2 for gravitational acceleration. Assume no air resistance.

1. Consider the Ferris wheel to the right, which is rotating clockwise at a

constant speed of 8 m/s and has a radius of 12.8 meters. A child, of
mass 24 kg, climbs onto the Ferris wheel and starts riding it around.

a. Calculate the child’s net centripetal force at point C.

ΣFc = mac ΣFc = (24)(8)2 / 12.8

ac = v2 / r ΣFc =120 N
b. Is the magnitude of the child’s net centripetal force the same at
point A as it is at point C? Discuss.
Since the tangential velocity, the radius, and the mass of
the child are the same at both A and C on the Ferris
wheel, the centripetal net force is also the same.
c. On the dot below, which represents the child when it is at the top of the Ferris wheel and the
bottom of the Ferris wheel (point C), draw and label the forces exerted on the cart. Represent
each force by a distinct arrow starting on, and pointing away from, the dot.
Point A Point C
Tip: The force of gravity is
240 N at both locations. FN
However, at the top, the FN
normal force is less than the
force of gravity, such that
there's 120 more newtons of Fg Fg
force pointing in than out.

d. At point A, is the child speeding up, slowing down, or neither?

___ Speeding up ___ Slowing down ___ Neither

Briefly justify your selection.
The rider is traveling at a constant speed at all points. They are not
experiencing any tangential forces that would cause the magnitude of
velocity to change.

e. Calculate the magnitude of normal force acting on the child at point A.

ΣFc = Fin − Fout 120 = 240 − FN
ΣFc = Fg − FN FN = 120 N

f. Calculate the magnitude of normal force acting on the child at point C.

ΣFc = Fin − Fout 120 = FN − 240
ΣFc = FN − Fg FN = 360 N

g. Children of different masses are also riding the same Ferris wheel.
Considering these children are all traveling at the same velocity and at
the same radius, on the right, sketch a graph showing the relationship
between the mass of the child and the net centripetal force experienced
by the child.
All the children have the same centripetal acceleration (ac = v2 / r, same v and r),
so their net force and mass are linear in relationship (ΣF = ma). ❥ BIO & PHYS BOUQUET 2024
2. Consider this Ferris wheel, which is rotating counterclockwise at a
constant speed of v and a radius of R. Assume the average rider has a
mass of m.

a. Derive an equation for the centripetal net force acting upon the
rider at point A…
i. ... in terms of m, v, and R.
ΣFc = mac ΣFc = mv2 / R
ac = v2 / R
ii. ... in terms of m, g, and the rider’s normal force, FN.
ΣFc = Fin − Fout
ΣFc = Fg − FN ΣFc = mg − FN
b. The rider is experiencing a net force of F0. Identify the new net force, in terms of F0, for each of
the following modifications (assume all other variables stay constant).

The velocity, v, is cut in half 1/4 0

____F

The velocity, v, is quadrupled 16 0

____F

The mass of the rider, m, is tripled 3 0

____F

The radius of the ride, R, is doubled 1/2 0

____F

c. At point A, the rider experiences a normal force of FN. Derive an equation for this normal force in
terms of m, v, r, and fundamental constants.

From part (a) i & ii: mv2 / R = mg − FN FN = mg − (mv2 / R)

ΣFc = mv2 / R
FN + (mv2 / R) = mg
ΣFc = mg − FN
Tip: You cannot cancel out the "m"s here. To "cancel out" means to divide both
sides of the equation by m. If we did that, we'd end up with FN / m.
d. If a rider, of mass m, on a Ferris wheel experiences a normal force of
0.75mg when passing over point A (the top)...
i. On the right, draw a free body diagram for the rider when at point A. FN

ii. At point A, how much net centripetal force is the rider experiencing,
in terms of m and g?
Fg
ΣFc = Fin − Fout ΣFc = mg − 0.75mg
ΣFc = Fg − FN ΣFc = 0.25mg

iii. When passing across the bottom, at point C, determine how much normal force would
the rider experience, in terms of m and g.
Why is the net force the same at the top
ΣFc = 0.25mg & bottom of the Ferris wheel?
ΣFc = Fin − Fout
The velocity, radius, and mass of the
0.25mg = FN − mg rider (ΣFc = mv2 / R) are the same the
ΣFc = FN − Fg
FN = 1.25mg whole way around, so the net centripetal
is constant as well in magnitude, no
Why does 0.25mg + mg = 1.25mg? matter top, bottom, or sides.
It may be helpful to note that mg is equivalent to 1mg.
We just don't bother writing the 1. So, 0.25 + 1 = 1.25. ❥ BIO & PHYS BOUQUET 2024
3. The Ant Amusement Park designs a tiny Ferris wheel ride for its ant visitors. The graph below shows
the time versus the vertical position of an ant riding the Ferris wheel.

A
(at 0.45 m)

a. The axle of the Ferris wheel, indicated by the letter A on the diagram in the upper right, is
located in the center of the wheel. On the graph, draw and label line indicating the vertical
height of the axle.

b. Using the graph…

i. Determine the radius of the Ferris wheel. Briefly explain how you used the graph to
determine this value.
The top of the ride is at 0.7 m, the bottom is at 0.2 m, as those are the
highest and lowest points the ant reaches according to the graph. So the
diameter is 0.5 m and therefore the radius is 0.25 m.
ii. Determine the period of revolution of the ant rider. Briefly explain how you used the
graph to determine this value.
Measure from crest to crest to find the period. The first crest is at 5 s.
The next crest is at 15 s. So the period here is 10 seconds (which means,
every 10 seconds the motion repeats).
iii. Calculate the tangential speed of the ant rider.

v = 2πR / T v = 2π(0.25) / 10 v = 0.157 m/s

c. Identify one additional piece of information that, if known, would allow the magnitude of net
centripetal force acting on the ant to be calculated. Explain your
Since we know both the tangential velocity and the radius, we can calculate the
centripetal acceleration (ac = v2 / R). However, we would need the mass of the
ant in order to calculate the net centripetal force (ΣFc = mac).
d. Is the magnitude of normal force experienced by the ant greater when it passes over the top of
the Ferris wheel, greater when passing at the bottom, or is it equal in both locations?

______ Greater at top ______ Greater at bottom _______ Equal in both locations
Justify your selection.
The ant is in circular motion at both locations. This means that it must have a net
force pointing towards the inside of its curved motion. At the bottom, this means
that it must have more forces inward than out. This means normal must be greater
than the force of gravity at the bottom of the Ferris wheel.

❥ BIO & PHYS BOUQUET 2024

4. Two Ferris wheels, A and B, have the same diameter but are spinning at different speeds. The highest
position a rider reaches on either Ferris wheel is XT while the lowest position is XB. It takes a period of t
for Ferris wheel B to make one rotation. The graph above shows the vertical position of a rider as a
function of time, in terms of t, for both Ferris wheels. Three points along Ferris wheel B’s path, Q, R,
and S, have been identified on the graph.

a. Which Ferris wheel has a greater tangential velocity?

___ Ferris wheel A ___ Ferris wheel B
Explain, without derivations, how you used the graph to make your selection.
Wheel B completes one full rotation in half the time that it takes wheel A to complete
one full rotation. At t = 0, their riders both start at XT. Wheel B returns that that height
in a time of just t. However, wheel A takes 2t to return to that position. That indicates
that wheel B is twice as fast as wheel A.
b. Rank the normal force experienced by a rider on wheel B from greatest magnitude (1) to least
(3) at the three points. If any of the normal forces are equal, rank them using the same number.
3 Q
____ 2 R
____ 1 S
____
Briefly justify your ranking.
A rider on a Ferris wheel must always have a net force pointing into the curved
motion. This means that the top, force of gravity is greater than normal force, and at
the bottom, normal force is greater than the force of gravity. In the middle, at point R,
the normal and the force of gravity are just balanced.

c. Derive an equation for the tangential velocity of a rider on wheel A, vA, in terms of XT, XB, and t.
v = 2πR / T vA = 2πR / TA
TA = 2t
vA = 2π((XT − XB) / 2) / (2t) vA = 0.5π(XT − XB) / t
Diameter = XT − XB
vA = π(XT − XB) / (2t)
Radius = (XT − XB) / 2
d. Determine the ratio vA / vB, where vB is the tangential velocity of a rider on wheel B.
TB = t Solve both vA and vB for t. Solve for vA / vB.
vA = 2πR / T t = 0.5π(XT − XB) / vA 0.5 / vA = 1 / vB
vB = 2π((XT − XB) / 2) / (t) t = π(XT − XB) / vB
vA / vB = 0.5
vB = π(XT − XB) / t Set equal, eliminate like terms.

0.5π(XT − XB) / vA = π(XT − XB) / vB

❥ BIO & PHYS BOUQUET 2024