Your instructor rides on a merry-go-round turning at a constant rate. In which direction does the net force on your instructor point?
A. away from the center
B. toward the center
C. down
D. tangent to the circular path
I choose D.tangent to the circular path (wrong again)
B. Centripetal acceleration goes inward, so it follows that centripetal force would do the same.
The velocity of the horses and everything is tangent to the circular path, though.
I'm sorry, but the correct answer is B. The net force on your instructor points toward the center of the merry-go-round. This is because an object moving in a circle experiences a centripetal force that pulls it toward the center of the circle.
To determine the direction of the net force on your instructor, we need to consider the motion of an object in circular motion. When an object moves in a circle, there is always a centripetal force that acts towards the center of the circle and keeps the object moving in a curved path.
In the case of your instructor riding on a merry-go-round, the net force on them must point towards the center of the circle. This is because the centripetal force is required to change the direction of their velocity and keep them moving in a circular path.
Therefore, the correct answer is B. The net force on your instructor points towards the center of the circular path.