Another "simple" physics question.

the wheel is moving with respect to the person on the ground.
assuming the wheel is propelled at a constant velocity, there would be no acceleration nor deceleration.

 

it is accelerating

 

I'm waiting on the anwer on this one.

"Dammit Spock, I'm a flashy starship captain, not a Vulcan geek!"

 

i gave the answer. it is accelerating

 

please explain, lest this becomes another 80 page airplane thread!

 

None of the above. The ferris wheel is in a steady state of motion. If the time dropped to 58 seconds it would be accelerating. If the time climbed to 62 seconds it would be decelerating. At a constant 60 second cycle with no jerky movement it is in an unaccelerated steady state.

John

 

how about i kill it now. Acceleration is a change in velocity and/or a change in direction. There is never a time where the ferris wheel is travelling in the same direction since it is a circle.

the end

 

I WIN!!!! what's my prize?

 

Umm, the ferris wheel is not moving at all relative to the observer. The chair is moving in a circle and is in a constant state of acceleration, but isn't the wheel itself stationary?
I don't think the question was asked correctly for the given answer.

 

Danke schoen.

 

That's not right. You are describing CENTRIPETAL ACCELERATION not angular acceleration. Centripetal acceleration usually applies to point masses moving in circular paths, such as a person on the edge of the wheel. Angular acceleration is the CHANGE IN ANGULAR VELOCITY. Since there is no change, there is no ANGULAR ACCELERATION of the ferris wheel. The only mass accelerating in this problem is the person on the ferris wheel, he/she is undergoing centripetal acceleration. You really need to work on the wording of your problems.

 

oh crap, now this is gonna turn into a 3298432 page thread again

 

bitte

 

Yup. No wonder I flunked physics. Let's just go have a couple of beers!

 

deal!

 

The ferris wheel is not moving, unless you count the movement of continental plates. It is anchored to the ground and will be in the same place every time you go back to ride on it.

 

To all wannbe Einsteins......

The correct answer is C (Not moving). The ferris wheel is "rotating" and not "moving."

The person on the Ferris wheel is continually accelerating, but that was not the question.

 

the wheel is not accelerating or decelerating, which is what the question is asking.

a velocity reference can only be made in relation to a specific point on the wheel (ie the dude in the chair), however when talking of the wheel itself we are talking about RPMs, or a theoretical velocity the wheel would attain if at those RPMs with it's given circumference it were rolling on the ground.

 

that's why for simplicity's sake i'm only dealing with RPMs when we talk of something spinning on an axis and not going anywhere, or it's potential velocity if in the case of a wheel it came into contact with a surface of 100% frictional efficiency. in this case accelerating/decelerating means RPMs increasing/decreasing, of which neither is true at a constant 1 RPM.

 

Spang 308 has it right.

If the cycle is a CONSTANT 60 second rotation in relation to a STATIONARY POINT (person) on the ground then there is no acceleration or deacceleration, simply continuous motion..

Acceleration is an INCREASE of velocity or cycle.
DEacceleration is a DECREASE of velocity or cycle.

No math required, just a simple Timex.

I read just fine. The poll does not offer all of the plausible choices.