Chapter 10, Problem 31A

If you lose your grip on a rapidly spinning merry-go-round and fall off, in which direction will you fly?

To determine

The direction in which the person flies if he loses the grip on a rapidly spinning merry-go-round.

Answer to Problem 31A

Tangential direction

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

When an object moves in a circle, its speed remains constant always but its direction always changes which is always tangential.

Now, if the grip of the person spinning on the merry-go-round losses up, then the person will fly in the direction of the velocity at that position which will always be tangential in a circle.

Conclusion:

Hence, the person will fly in a tangential direction for the given case.