Math Problem Statement
Learning Goal: apply principles of static friction and
circular motion to analyze the motion of a person on a
spinning carnival ride.
Macmillan Leaming
In a classic carnival ride, patrons stand against the wall
in a cylindrically shaped room. Once the room gets
spinning fast enough, the floor drops from the bottom of
the room! Friction between the walls of the room and
the people on the ride makes them "stick" to the wall so
they do not slide down.
In one ride, the radius of the cylindrical room is
R = 6.0 m and the room spins with a frequency of 23.5
revolutions per minute.
μs,min =
R
་
What is the minimum coefficient μs,min of friction needed
between the wall and the person?
Solution
To solve for the minimum coefficient of static friction (μₛ,min) needed to keep a person from sliding down the wall in a spinning cylindrical carnival ride, we need to apply principles of circular motion and static friction.
Key Information:
- Radius of the room:
- Frequency of spinning:
- Gravitational acceleration:
Approach:
-
Convert frequency to angular velocity: The angular velocity in radians per second can be found from the frequency: where is the frequency in revolutions per second (rps). First, convert rpm to rps: Now, calculate :
-
Calculate the centripetal force: The centripetal force acting on a person due to the spinning motion is: where is the mass of the person. This force acts horizontally, pushing the person against the wall.
-
Static friction force: The static friction force between the person and the wall keeps the person from sliding down. This frictional force must balance the weight of the person: where is the acceleration due to gravity.
-
Friction condition: The static friction is related to the normal force (which is the centripetal force in this case) by: where . Therefore: Simplifying the equation:
-
Substitute known values: Now, substitute the values for , , and : Calculate the denominator: Finally, solve for :
Answer:
The minimum coefficient of static friction needed is approximately 0.27.
Would you like more details or have any questions on this?
Here are 5 related questions to expand on this concept:
- How would the minimum coefficient of friction change if the radius of the room were larger?
- What would happen to the friction requirement if the ride spun faster?
- How does the mass of the person affect the minimum friction coefficient?
- What is the relationship between centripetal force and the radius of the spinning room?
- How does static friction prevent slipping in scenarios involving circular motion?
Tip: Always ensure the angular velocity is correctly converted from rpm to radians per second when dealing with circular motion!
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Circular Motion
Static Friction
Centripetal Force
Formulas
Angular velocity: ω = 2πf
Centripetal force: Fc = mω²R
Static friction: Ff = μsFn
Friction condition: mg = μs mω²R
Minimum static friction coefficient: μs = g / (ω²R)
Theorems
Newton's Second Law
Circular Motion Theorem
Frictional Force Theorem
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 11-12 (Advanced Physics)
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