Two children, each with a mass of 25.4 kg, are at fixed locations on a merry-go-round (a disk that spins about an axis perpendicular to the disk and through its center). One child is 0.78 m from the center of the merry-go-round, and the other is near the outer edge, 3.14 m from the center. With the merry-go-round rotating at a constant angular speed, the child near the edge is moving with translational speed of 11.5 m/s. a. What is the angular speed of each child?
b. Through what angular distance does each child move in 5.0 s?
c. Through what distance in meters does each child move in 5.0 s?
d. What is the centripetal force experienced by each child as he or she holds on?
e. Which child has a more difficult time holding on?

a) ω₁ = ω₂ = 3.7 rad/sec

b) Δθ₁ = Δθ₂ = 18.5 rad

c) d₁ = 14.5 m  d₂ = 57.5 m

d) Fc1 = 273.9 N Fc2 = 1069.8 N

e) The boy near the outer edge.

Explanation:

a)

Since the merry-go-round is a rigid body, any point on it rotates at the same angular speed.However, linear speeds of points at different distances from  the center, are different.Applying the definition of angular velocity, and the definition of angle, we can write the following relationship between the angular and linear speeds:

       

Since we know the value of v for the child near the outer edge, and the value of r for this point, we can find the value of the angular speed, as follows:

       

As we have already said, ωout = ωin = 3.7 rad/sec

b)

Since the angular speed is the same for both childs, the angle rotated in the same time, will be the same for both also.Applying the definition of angular speed, as the rate of change of the angle rotated with respect to time, we can find the angle rotated (in radians) as follows:

        ⇒  Δθ₁ = Δθ₂ = 18.5 rad.

c)

The linear distance traveled by each child, will be related with the linear speed of them.Knowing the value of the angular speed, and the distance from each boy to the center, we can apply (1) in order to get the linear speeds, as follows:

       

      vout is a given of the problem ⇒ vout = 11. 5 m/s

Applying the definition of linear velocity, we can find the distance traveled by each child, as follows:

       

     

d)

The centripetal force experienced by each child is the force that keeps them on a circular movement, and can be written as follows:

       

Replacing by the values of vin and rin, since m is a given, we can find Fcin (the force on the boy closer to the center) as follows:

     

In the same way, we get Fcout (the force on the boy near the outer edge):

     

e)

The centripetal force that keeps the boys in a circular movement, is not a different type of force, and in this case, is given by the static friction force.The maximum friction force is given by the product of the coefficient of static friction times the normal force.Since the boys are not accelerated in the vertical direction, the normal force is equal and opposite to the force due to gravity, which is the weight.As both boys have the same mass, the normal force is also equal.This means that for both childs, the maximum possible static friction force, is the same, and given by the following expression:If this force is greater than the centripetal force, the boy will be able to hold on.So, as the centripetal force is greater for the boy close to the outer edge, he will have a more difficult time holding on.

Ifeel like lily and ledbetter had a fair pay act just because it was necessary especially at those times

No it doesnt because it can be any number.