Question

A carnival merry-go-round rotates around a vertical axis at a constant rate. Two horses are attached to the rotating merry-go-round with the red horse placed at a shorter distance from the center of the merry-go-round than the blue horse. Which of the following statements are true concerning both horses? Select two answers.

a. The red horse has a greater angular velocity.
b. The blue horse has a greater linear velocity.
c. The red horse experiences a greater centripetal force.
d. The blue horse experiences a greater tangential acceleration.

Answer 1

Both horses on the merry-go-round have the same angular velocity. However, the blue horse, being farther from the center of rotation, has a greater linear velocity and would also experience a greater centripetal force.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering a carnival merry-go-round with horses rotating at a constant rate, we are dealing with rotational motion. Given that the red horse is closer to the center and the blue horse is farther away, the following statements can be made:

• Both the red horse and the blue horse have the same angular velocity because they complete a rotation in the same amount of time.
• The blue horse has a greater linear velocity because, being farther from the center, it travels a longer path in the same period of time.

The incorrect choices are that the red horse would have greater angular velocity or greater centripetal force, and that the blue horse would have greater tangential acceleration. In a scenario where the merry-go-round rotates at a constant rate, tangential acceleration is not a factor. The centripetal force experienced by each horse depends on the mass and the linear (tangential) velocity; thus, the blue horse which is moving faster, would experience a greater centripetal force.