Final answer:
The amplitude of the Ferris wheel's motion is 5 meters, with a midline height of 8 meters and a period of 4 minutes. At 2 minutes, your height above the ground is 13 meters. Main forces involved are gravity and the normal force, ensuring centripetal acceleration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the Ferris Wheel Motion
The question pertains to the motion of a Ferris wheel as it relates to time. A Ferris wheel that is 10 meters in diameter and begins 3 meters above the ground has certain characteristics that describe its movement. The wheel completes a full revolution in 4 minutes, which indicates the period of this harmonic motion is 4 minutes. The amplitude, which is the maximum displacement from the midline, would be half the diameter, so 5 meters. The midline, which is the average height of the motion, would be half the diameter plus the height of the platform from the ground, giving 8 meters (5 meters for half the diameter and 3 meters for the platform height).
After 2 minutes, which is half the period, you would be at the highest point in the ride since the Ferris wheel follows a circular motion. Consequently, your height above the ground would then be twice the amplitude (10 meters since the amplitude is 5 meters) plus the platform height (3 meters), totaling 13 meters above the ground.
As for the forces acting on a Ferris wheel with people in chairs at various positions, the main forces would be gravity acting downwards and the normal force exerted by the wheel on the people which acts radially. These forces maintain the riders in circular motion and are crucial for ensuring the centripetal acceleration necessary for the motion.