Cosine and Sine

Question

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.

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

Answer 1

Graph:

Function:

Let:

"h" be your height above the ground in feet,

"t" be the time (in minutes),

"R" be the Radius of the Ferris Wheel in feet,

"T" be the time it takes to go around one time (aka "the period") in minutes

h₀ be the height off the ground to the middle of the Ferris wheel in feet

Then the function would be:

h(t) = Rsin((2π)/T)t) + h₀