the wheel has a radius of 30, so
y = 30sint or 30cost
people get on at the bottom, so at t=0 y is at its minimum
y = -30cost
the minimum is at y=2, so
y = 32-30cost
the period is 20. y=cos(kt) has a period of 2π/k, so 2π/k = 20. k=π/10
y = 32-30cos(π/10 t)
see
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=32-30cos(%CF%80%2F10+t)
I have absolutely no idea even where to start. Please help!
The carnival has come to town with a ferris wheel that has a radius of 30 feet. People get on when passenger compartments are at the lowest, 2 feet off the ground. The wheel makes a full revolution in 20 seconds.
Using a cosine function, write an equation modelling the height of a passenger from the ground as a function of time.
Thanks so much!
1 answer
1 answer