- #1
BomboshMan
- 19
- 0
Hi,
Say there's a particle moving with just a radial component of acceleration, this will stay in circular motion because the acceleration is always perpendicular to the velocity. But if you introduce a tangential component of velocity, according to my book the particle stays in circular motion but it's tangential velocity changes. Why does this happen instead of the particle just moving in a path that isn't circular? Like an oval or something, seeing as the net acceleration no longer always points to the same place (centre of a circle).
Thanks
Say there's a particle moving with just a radial component of acceleration, this will stay in circular motion because the acceleration is always perpendicular to the velocity. But if you introduce a tangential component of velocity, according to my book the particle stays in circular motion but it's tangential velocity changes. Why does this happen instead of the particle just moving in a path that isn't circular? Like an oval or something, seeing as the net acceleration no longer always points to the same place (centre of a circle).
Thanks