Chapter 10, Problem 2A

Does a child on a merry-go-round revolve or rotate around the merry-go-round’s axis?

To determine

To identify:Whether the child on a merry-go-round revolves or rotates around the axis of merry-go-round.

Answer to Problem 2A

The child on a merry-go-round revolves around the axis of merry-go-round.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

Consider an object is moving in a circular path about an axis in the interior of object, then the object is said to be rotating about the axis. For example: the rotation of the Earth about its own axis (line passing through the north and south poles of the Earth).

Consider an object is moving in a circular path about an axis in the exterior of object, then the object is said to be revolving about the axis. For example: the revolution of the Earth about the sun.

Consider a child is sitting in a merry-go-round.

The plan view of the merry-go-round is shown below:

  

The child sits in any of the seat A, B, C, and D .

All the seats are connected to the central pole O .

All the seats will be moving in a circular path about an axis passing through the centre of pole O .

The child sitting in any one of the seats will also move in a circular path about an axis passing through the centre of pole O .

Hence, the child on a merry-go-round revolves around the axis of merry-go-round.

Conclusion:

Thus, the child on a merry-go-round revolves around the axis of merry-go-round.