Question

A merry-go-round is spinning around a frictionless axle at its center with a person standing at the edge. The person then begins to walk toward the center. Will the merry-go-round spin faster or slower as a result? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

when the person then begins to walk toward the center the marry go round will spin slower .

initially the person is at the edge of the marry go round i.e at the maximum distance from the axis of rotation (axle) and therefore his weight results into maximum torque because torque = force x perpendicular distance .

but, when he begins to move towards the center or we can say towards the axis (or axle) the perpendicular distance from the axis decreases hence torque decreases . As a result of it the spin of marry-go-round becomes slower .