Question

A certain amusement park ride consists of a large rotating cylinder of radius R=3.05 m.R=3.05 m. As the cylinder spins, riders inside feel themselves pressed against the wall. If the cylinder rotates fast enough, the frictional force between the riders and the wall can be great enough to hold the riders in place as the floor drops out from under them. If the cylinder makes f=0.450 rotations/s,f=0.450 rotations/s, what is the magnitude of the normal force FNFN between a rider and the wall, expressed in terms of the rider's weight W?W? FN=FN= WW What is the minimum coefficient of static friction µsμs required between the rider and the wall in order for the rider to be held in place without sliding down?

Answer 1

a. N = 2.49W b. 0.40

Step-by-step explanation:

a. What is the magnitude of the normal force FNFN between a rider and the wall, expressed in terms of the rider's weight W?

Since the normal force equals the centripetal force on the rider, N = mrω² where r = radius of cylinder = 3.05 m and ω = angular speed of cylinder = 0.450 rotations/s = 0.450 × 2π rad/s = 2.83 rad/s

Now N = mrω² = m(3.05 m) × (2.83 rad/s)² = 24.43m

The rider's weight W = mg = 9.8m

The ratio of the normal force to the rider's weight is

N/W = 24.43m/9.8m = 2.49

So the normal force expressed in term's of the rider's weight is

N = 2.49W

b. What is the minimum coefficient of static friction µsμs required between the rider and the wall in order for the rider to be held in place without sliding down?

The frictional force, F on the rider by the wall of the cylinder equals the weight, W of the rider. F = W.

Since the frictional force F = μN, where μ = coefficient of static friction between rider and wall of cylinder and N = normal force between rider and wall of cylinder.

So, the normal force equals

N = F/μ = W/μ = mg/μ = mrω²

μ = mg/mrω²

= W/N

= 9.8m/24.43m

= 0.40