Centripetal Acceleration (Problem 21)

Integrated Concepts Riders in an amusement park ride shaped like a Viking ship hung from a large pivot are rotated back and forth like a rigid pendulum. Sometime near the middle of the ride, the ship is momentarily motionless at the top of its circular arc. The ship then swings down under the influence of gravity. The speed at the bottom of the arc is 23.4 m/s. The radius of the arc is 14.0 m.(a) What is the centripetal acceleration at the bottom of the arc?(b) Draw a free body diagram of the forces acting on a rider at the bottom of the arc.(c) Find the force exerted by the ride on a 60.0 kg rider and compare it to her weight.(d) Discuss whether the answer seems reasonable. Select the answer to part (a).