View Full Version : Finding the Center of a circle
KMjuniormint5
Oct13-07, 07:42 PM
The question is:
A particle moves horizontally in uniform circular motion, over a horizontal xy plane. At one instant, it moves through the point at coordinates (3.00 m, 3.00 m) with a velocity of -5.00 m/s and an acceleration of +10.0 m/s2. What are the coordinates of the center of the circular path?
I know centripical acceleration is a = (v^2)/r
I know:
ax = 0 m/s^2
ay = 10 m/s^2
and . . .
vx = -5 m/s
vy = 0 m/s
where do i go from here?
I know centripical acceleration is a = (v^2)/r
What will that allow you to calculate?
I know:
ax = 0 m/s^2
ay = 10 m/s^2
and . . .
vx = -5 m/s
vy = 0 m/s
I assume that the directions were given?
Make use of that centripetal acceleration formula.
KMjuniormint5
Oct13-07, 08:18 PM
ax = 0 m/s^2
ay = 10 m/s^2
and . . .
vx = -5 m/s
vy = 0 m/s
I am just assuming that from reading from the question . . .is that a safe assumption?
This is the question that I am asked:
A particle moves horizontally in uniform circular motion, over a horizontal xy plane. At one instant, it moves through the point at coordinates (3.00 m, 3.00 m) with a velocity of -5.00 m/s and an acceleration of +10.0 m/s2. What are the coordinates of the center of the circular path?
and what I did was find the accel. in the x and y direction and the velocity in the x and y velocity
The question says "with a velocity of -5.00 m/s and an acceleration of +10.0 m/s2", but what direction? You assume the velocity is in the -x direction, but I see nothing in the problem statement that tells you that.
Perhaps this statement "A particle moves horizontally in uniform circular motion, over a horizontal xy plane" was supposed to read "A particle moves along the x-axis...". (If it's moving in a horizontal xy plane, then both x-axis and y-axis are horizontal.)
OK, let's assume your directions are correct. Now make use of the centripetal acceleration formula. You have v and a; find r.
KMjuniormint5
Oct13-07, 08:44 PM
ahhhhh . . .there is another piece i left out . . "-5.00 i(hat) m/s and an acceleration of +10.0 j(hat) m/s2 "
. . .that is where I got my information from but even in that case would I still just do a direct plug in? so. . .
10 = 25/r and r having a value of 2.5m?
ahhhhh . . .there is another piece i left out . . "-5.00 i(hat) m/s and an acceleration of +10.0 j(hat) m/s2 "
That makes all the difference! :smile:
. . .that is where I got my information from but even in that case would I still just do a direct plug in? so. . .
10 = 25/r and r having a value of 2.5m?
Right. Now use that to locate the center of the circle. (You know which way the acceleration points.)
KMjuniormint5
Oct13-07, 08:54 PM
wow i was just making it way too hard. . .thank you so much Doc!
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