How it Works: The Ferris Wheel

Supplies:

• Popsicle sticks
• Hot glue
• Wooden dowels
• A box of chocolate
• String
• A spool
• Scissors

Building the Ferris Wheel

Ferris wheel physics is directly related to centripetal acceleration. This results in riders feeling lighter or heavier depending on their position on the ferris wheel.

How It Works: The Ferris Wheel

How we made it

Physics in a Ferris Wheel

If you recall, Newton's second law is F=ma. To solve our N1 and N2, lets apply this equation in the vertical direction.

Lets figure out why this happens. Here is a diagram.

N1-mg=m(-ap)

N1=mg-map

N1=m(g-ap)

N2-mg=m(ap)

N2=mg+map

N2=m(g+ap)

• 1 is the upper-most position
• 2 is the bottom-most position
• C is where the passenger sits
• R is the radius
• W is the angular velocity

Here are the forces acting upon the rider

• mg is the force of gravity
• N1 is the force exerted by the seats at point C1
• N2 is the force exerted by the seats at point C2
• ap is the centripetal acceleration of point P

In conclusion, in a passsenger will feel heaviest at N2 and lightest at N1.

Centripetal acceleration is:

Property of the motion of an object traveling in a circular path. Centripetal describes the force on the object, directed toward the centre of the circle, which causes a constant change in the object's direction and thus its acceleration (basically "a" is always pointing towards the centre). It is a vector and can be added with the contribution of gravity.

a = v^2/r.

Where does the energy come from?

If you are on a Ferris wheel, the motor has to work hard to lift you to the top. If all the seats are filled, the motor can idle once it gets things to start moving because as you rise and gain potential energy, other passengers are falling and losing potential energy. On a Ferris wheel, you are exchanging mechanical energy with your fellow passengers.

Why do Ferris Wheels move so slow?

Energy

The reason ferris wheels move so slowly is because the gondolas are free hanging. If the velocity is too fast, the gondolas will swing around the rod holding it and will cause the passenger to fall.

• Potential energy is greatest at the highest point of the Ferris Wheel. At this point it accumulates potential energy from the kinetic energy it took to reach this point.
• Potential energy is then used up as it descends to where there is active kinetic energy and still stored potential energy.
• At the bottom there is no potential energy.
• At the top of the Ferris wheel, if speed is constant, the mechanical energy is greater at the top than at the bottom.

2. The Rods

• We put wooden dowels in the green section of the ferris wheel in order to create more stability

1. The Wheel

• We created two heptagons out of popsicle sticks and glued them on different ends of a spool.

4. A-frame

• In order to keep the wheel upright we created two A-shaped stands. At the top we left an x-shape. This is where the ferris wheel will rest.

3. Connecting the Ferris Wheel

• To connect the rims of the ferris wheel we glued wooden dowels to each point of the wheel (there are seven), this will later be used to hold the gondolas.

5. Gondolas (seats)

• To create the gondolas we took a box of chocolate and cut up the chocolate holder. Then, we cut two strings and glued them on either side of the chocolate holders.
• Gondolas can freely pivot. This is why the seats always hang downwards.

this is the x-shape

Because the end of the popsicle stick is not straight we added an extra A-shape at the bottom for extra stability

Final product