: According to Wikipedia, the London Eye is the largest Ferris Wheel in the Western Hemisphere. It took 7 years to build the Eye and it was originally known as the Millennium Wheel. The circumference of the Eye is approximately 424m. The total weight of the wheel alone is 2100 tonnes, which makes it 20 times heavier than Big Ben. Over 3.5 million people ride the Eye every year. One complete rotation on the Eye takes about 30 minutes. On a clear day, you can see up to 25 miles in each direction!
Students will determine an appropriate trigonometric model to determine the height of a rider at a certain time. Students will need to find the amplitude, period and frequency. Teachers can also introduce a vertical shift to raise the bottom chair above the ground. Teachers can also ask students to find a second function that is equivalent using horizontal/phase shifts. Students will be asked to calculate how their height at m minutes, and how long will it take to reach h height .