How Strong is Ferris Wheel?     Eli Bridge Company is a manufacturing company of many amusement park rides. One of their Ferris Wheels is called the #16 Electric Rim Drive Wheel, a typical Ferris Wheel that can be found in most carnivals, as seen on the right. According to their specifications the seats are all of aluminum, the Ferris Wheel can take up to 16 seats per load, and the maximum weight per load is 3,701 kg. The Wheel itself is 20.4 meters in diameter. It can spin at 4.75  Rounds per minute. Its total mass without any passenger is 22,000 lb or 9979 kg. This Ferris Wheel was built from the recommended specifications from the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) whom tests materials for their safety.     According to the website "How It's Made", although the seats and their connecting parts are made from aluminum, to prevent rust, the rest of the ride is made from steel. Steel is generally harder than aluminum and it helps the ride stay intact. Rubber drive wheels are rotated on the inner ring of the Ferris Wheel, which allows it to spin.

#16 Electric Rim Drive Wheel Provided by: http://www.elibridge.com/images/FERRISWHEEL14500.gif