Ferris wheel magnitude and period

[AnkhUNC]

Homework Statement

A woman rides a carnival Ferris wheel at radius 21 m, completing 4.2 turns about its horizontal axis every minute. What are (a) the period of the motion, and the magnitude of her centripetal acceleration at (b) the highest point and (c) the lowest point?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

How should I go about solving this one? Also are there any sites that can explain 2d and 3d motion better? My book is a little lacking.

 

[AnkhUNC]

So I have t= 14.285 but I really am unsure of how to find the max/min.

 

[Moetasim]

I would approach this problem by first identifying the relevant equations and principles related to circular motion. The period of the motion can be calculated using the formula T = 2πr/v, where r is the radius of the Ferris wheel and v is the linear velocity. In this case, r = 21 m and v = (4.2 turns/minute) * (2π rad/turn) * (21 m) = 88.2 m/s. Plugging these values into the formula, we get T = 2π(21 m)/88.2 m/s = 0.477 minutes.

To calculate the centripetal acceleration, we can use the formula a = v^2/r. At the highest point, the linear velocity is zero, so the centripetal acceleration is also zero. At the lowest point, the linear velocity is at its maximum, which we calculated to be 88.2 m/s. Plugging this into the formula, we get a = (88.2 m/s)^2/21 m = 370.5 m/s^2.

As for resources to better understand 2D and 3D motion, I would recommend checking out educational websites such as Khan Academy or Physics Classroom. You can also find helpful explanations and examples in physics textbooks or online lecture notes. It may also be helpful to practice solving similar problems to solidify your understanding of the concepts.