Mathematics

Demarion Baldwin

2 April, 13:42

As you ride a ferris wheel, your distance from the ground varies sinusoidally with time. When the last passenger boards the ferris wheel and the ride starts moving, let your position be modeled by the diagram provided. Let t be the number of seconds that have elapsed since you began moving. It takes you 5 seconds to reach the top of the wheel (38 feet above the ground) and 20 seconds to make a complete revolution. The diameter of the wheel is 30 feet.

a) What is the lowest you go as the ferris wheel turns?

b) Why is this number always greater than 0?

c) Predict your height above the ground when t = 3, t = 8, t = 15, and t = 19.