Final answer:
The swing ride's primary purpose is to entertain attendees by offering a flying-like sensation and a view from above, using physics principles for a safe and thrilling experience.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of the swing ride at a carnival is primarily to provide entertainment for carnival attendees by creating a sensation of flying through the air and offering a unique view of the carnival from above. Although it may seem like the chairs are being tested for strength or that the ride is meant to simulate flying, these are secondary effects. The main intent is entertainment through the experience of riding.
Rides like the one shaped like a Viking ship or vertical barrel rides at amusement parks function based on principles of physics. In the Viking ship ride, riders experience pendulum-like motion and are momentarily stationary at the top of the arc, as gravity then pulls the ship down, speeding it up to 23.4 m/s at the bottom of the arc. Similarly, in the barrel ride, the riders are pinned to the wall due to centrifugal force, an apparent force experienced within the rotating frame of reference. The real forces at play include the normal force from the wall and the gravitational force pulling the riders downwards.
Physics in Amusement Park Rides
Amusement park rides such as roller coasters and swing rides leverage basic laws of physics in their design to ensure not just excitement and but also safety. Roller coaster cars, for instance, are engineered to maintain enough kinetic energy to speed over hills and make loops, safely attached to the rails to prevent them from falling off. It is evident from these rides that physics principles are integral in designing these thrilling experiences.