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Centripetal Acceleration Formula:
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Centripetal acceleration is the acceleration experienced by an object moving in a circular path, always directed toward the center of rotation. It's responsible for changing the direction of the velocity vector while keeping the object in circular motion.
The calculator uses the centripetal acceleration formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula shows that centripetal acceleration increases with the square of velocity but decreases with increasing radius.
Details: Understanding centripetal acceleration is crucial in various fields including physics, engineering, astronomy, and transportation design. It explains phenomena from planetary orbits to vehicle dynamics on curved roads.
Tips: Enter tangential velocity in m/s and radius in meters. Both values must be positive numbers, with radius greater than zero.
Q1: What's the difference between centripetal and centrifugal force?
A: Centripetal force is the real force that keeps an object in circular motion, directed toward the center. Centrifugal force is a perceived outward force in a rotating reference frame.
Q2: How does centripetal acceleration relate to angular velocity?
A: Centripetal acceleration can also be expressed as \( a_c = \omega^2 r \), where ω is the angular velocity in radians per second.
Q3: What are some real-world examples of centripetal acceleration?
A: Examples include cars turning on curves, planets orbiting stars, electrons orbiting nuclei, and amusement park rides like roller coasters.
Q4: Can centripetal acceleration change the speed of an object?
A: No, centripetal acceleration only changes the direction of velocity, not its magnitude (speed).
Q5: What happens if centripetal force is removed?
A: The object will move in a straight line tangent to its circular path at the point where the force was removed (Newton's first law).