Homework Help: A physics question

Posted by Nessa on Friday, November 2, 2007 at 10:29pm.

I was researching amusement park rides for a recent project (from this site I have noticed that many others are in the same boat as me). Anywho, I am doing the Ferris wheel or the Giant Wheel, and I was wondering if this was right, with respect to potential energy: this is due to the wheels vertical position; this type of energy does not change on the Ferris wheel as it revolves, if gondolas on the are the same mass, because the center of mass does not change . The center of mass is single point at which the entire mass of a body is considered to be concentrated. The ferris wheel's center mass is its center. This point acts a balance point for the wheel so, the potential energy remains the same at all points on the Ferris wheel. The potential energy is calculated by PE=mgh or mgd

I am pretty sure that this right, but if you could please verify, that would be wonderful! Danke!

Nessa

A physics question - drwls, Saturday, November 3, 2007 at 12:19am
Yes it is right. Potential energy has very little to do with hiow ferris wheels work. It is mainly a case of electrical energy makng the motor do work overcoming bearing friction. Kinetic energy is not a factor either, except when it is starting up.

Answer this Question

Related Questions

english - * I have a project to do for William Shakespeare, Were i have to make...
9th grade - * I have a project to do for William Shakespeare, Were i have to ...
Combinatorics - Bob is at an amusement park with 10 different rides. He only has...
Algebra 2 - Samantha is going on a vacation for the summer and is trying to ...
Physics - we are doing a really dumb websearch in my Physics class on roller ...
Math - I need help with these 3 problems. 1. An amusement park charges admission...
math - At a Amusement PArk you can buy tickets for 12 rides for $15. At that ...
Math - Hello, For math I have to make a graph of two linear relations. One has ...
Pre-Algebra - The biggest attraction at the new amusement park, World of Fun, is...
Physics - In a popular amusement park ride, a rotating cylinder of radius 3.0 m ...

For Further Reading

First Name:
School Subject:
Answer: