Looking down from a stationary tree branch, a merry-go-round spins in a counterclockwise direction with an angular velocity of 1 radian per second. a squirrel of mass 0.2 kg sis on the outer rim of the merry-go-round, at a radius of 2.0 meters.
a) What is the magnitude and direction of the vector omega?
b) What is the magnitude and direction of the Coriolis pseudo-force as felt by the squirrel? (equation: -2m(omega x v_r))
c)What is the magnitude and direction of the centrifugal pseudo-force as felt by the squirrel? (equation: -m(omegax(omegaxr_r))
10 points to best answer!
1 Answer
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(a) omega = 1 rad/s, direction = upward
(b) There is no Coriolis force so long as the squirrel is not trying to march inward or outward.
(c) F = (0.2 kg)(1 s^(-1))^2 (2.0 m) = 0.4 N
