Graphing sine and cosine functions

Question

A Ferris wheel has a diameter of 60 feet. When you start at the top of the Ferris wheel, you are 62 feet from the ground. The Ferris wheel completes one rotation in 2 minutes. 

1. 1. Create a graph that represents your height relative to the center of the Ferris wheel as a function of time, using the image below as a guide. Replace the image with your graph.

2. Create a function that represents your height relative to the center of the Ferris wheel as a function of time.

Answer 1

So, when you are at the bottom, you are 2 feet off the ground, right? This will be after 1 minute? Since the center is in the middle of the wheel, it's 32 feet off the ground.

Your time line will be at 32 feet and your graph will start 30 feet higher than that at 62 feet and go down 30 feet below that at 2 feet. You'll cross the center at 30 seconds (0.5 mins), hit bottom at 1 min, hit center again at 1.5 mins, and reach the top again at 2 mins for one full rotation, or cycle in cosine terms.

You should be able to use all of that info to find your formula.