Question

You and a friend are riding on a ferris wheel, which is moving with constant velocity. You, as a seeker of deep understanding, are sitting on a bathroom scale, wondering what will happen. Your friend observes 3 bathroom scale readings, one at the top, Rt , one at the middle, Rm, and one at the bottom, Rb .
Which of the following is the correct relationship between Rb , Rt , Rm? top middle bottom
1. Rt = Rb < Rm
2. Rt > Rm > Rb
3. Rt = Rb = Rm
4. Not enough information

Answer 1

Answer:C

Explanation:

Given

Person is moving in a ferris Wheel

suppose the radius of wheel is r and $\omega$ is the velocity of wheel

At top Centripetal Force is acting downward thus  net weight

$R_t=F_{net}=mg+m\omega ^2\cdot r$

At Bottom

Centripetal Force is acting upwards thus

$R_{b}=F_{net}=mg-m\omega ^2\cdot r$

At Middle Centripetal acceleration is acting towards center and is parallel to ground thus

$R_{m}=F_{net}=mg$  

Thus $R_t>R_m>R_b$