Arturo O. answered • 12/14/19
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There are 2 forces here. The cylinder wall applies a normal force Fn in the inward radial direction, which in this problem, equals the centripetal force. I assume the given acceleration a is the centripetal acceleration.
Fn = ma = (W/g)a
You know g, and you have the acceleration a and weight W.
But if the student is not sliding down the cylinder, there is also a vertical upward force of static friction f.
f = W
Arturo O.
The first equation applies always, because the normal force of the cylinder is the centripetal force. The second equation applies in addition to the first equation, if the student does not slide. If the student slides downward, there is a different equation that needs to be applied. From the wording of the question, it looks like the student does not slide, so you need the 2 equations that I gave you.
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12/14/19
Thomas D.
So, to summarize, if the student IS sliding downward, I would use that first equation, and if the student ISN'T sliding downward, I use the second?12/14/19