In a "Rotor-ride" at a carnival, people pay money to be rotated in a vertical cylindrically walled "room."
If the room radius is 4.8 m, and the rotation frequency is 0.6 revolutions per second when the floor drops out, what is the minimum coefficient of static friction so that the people will not slip down?
People describe this ride by saying they were being "pressed against the wall." Is this true? Is there really an outward force pressing them against the wall?
_ yes
_ no
If so, what is its source? If not, what is the proper description of their situation (besides "scary")? (Hint: First draw the free-body diagram for a person.)
I will be happy to critique your thinking or work on this. Please don't post under multiple names.