Final answer:
The amplitude of the Ferris wheel is equal to its radius. Given a diameter of 15 meters, the amplitude is 7.5 meters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The amplitude of a Ferris wheel is defined as the maximum distance that a point on the wheel moves up or down from its central axis during rotation. In this case, the diameter of the Ferris wheel is 15 meters, so the radius is half of the diameter, which is 7.5 meters. The amplitude, therefore, is equal to the radius of the wheel.
The amplitude of a function represents the maximum distance from the mean value. In the context of the Ferris wheel, the amplitude can be determined by finding the maximum height above the ground. The equation h = f(t) gives the height above the ground at a given time t.
Since the bottom of the Ferris wheel is 5 meters above the ground, the amplitude of the function is 5 meters. Therefore, the correct answer is A. 5 meters.