Centered 6 meters above the ground, a Ferris wheel of radius 5 meters rotates at 1 degree per second. Assuming that Jamie’s ride begins at the lowest point on the wheel, find how far Jamie is above the ground after 29 seconds; after 331 seconds; after t seconds

Answer 1

Did you make a diagram?

I drew a circle , centre C, with radius 5 and a "ground line" 6 units below the centre.
I drew a vertical line from C to the ground intersecting the circle at B and the ground at A
Draw a radius 29° from the vertical to cut the circle at D
From D draw a horizontal, cutting AC at E to form the right angled triangle CDE.

then cos 29° = EC/5
EC = 5cos29 = 4.373

so his height above the ground = 6 - EC
= 6-4.375 = 1.63 m

Now repeat the same calculations for 331°
(let me guess, you got the same answer. Can you see why ?)