On 20/7/2007 1:50 PM, OrionWorks wrote: > On 7/20/07, Harry Veeder wrote: >> I made a drawing of the situation I was imagining: >> >> http://web.ncf.ca/eo200/world-ferriswheel.html >> >> A ferris wheel located on Earth's equator. Initially a brake prevents the >> wheel from turning. After the brake is released and assuming the axel of the >> wheel is frictionless, will the orientation of the wheel remain unchanged as >> the Earth revolves? >> >> Harry >> > > Harry, > > Nice Illustration. What graphics package do you use?
Thanks. I use Adobe Illustrator. > I should think that the ferris wheel will appear stationary to a > ground observer - after the break has been released. IOW, from a > so-called gods-eye view, away from the planet's surface, the ferris > wheel will be seen to be rotating at the same RPM speed as the planet. > The RPM bestowed on the ferris wheel via inertia once the breaks have > been release will not have changed, therefore the wheel will appear to > rotate at the same RPM speed as the Earth as perceived off of the > planet, but will appear stationary to a ground observer. > > Does anyone wish to disagree? Did I miss something? While the brakes are applied the wheel is not turning about its own centre. Harry
