While riding a merry-go-round, a passenger is traveling at a speed of 1.3 m/s and is experiencing an acceleration of 1 m/s^2. Later in the ride, the merry-go-round has increased its speed so that the passenger is traveling at 2.6 m/s. What acceleration does this same passenger experience now?

1 m/s^2
2 m/s^2
2.3 m/s^2
4 m/s^2

Question

While riding a merry-go-round, a passenger is traveling at a speed of 1.3 m/s and is experiencing an acceleration of 1 m/s^2. Later in the ride, the merry-go-round has increased its speed so that the passenger is traveling at 2.6 m/s. What acceleration does this same passenger experience now?

1 m/s^2
2 m/s^2
2.3 m/s^2
4 m/s^2

jtvatsim · Answer

Seems to me that you will need the centripetal acceleration formula
$$a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}.$$ This should enable you to find the answer.