Angular acceleration of a planet

In summary, when a planet is farther from the sun, its gravitational force is lessened, thus causing it to experience less centripetal acceleration.
  • #1
itachipower
10
0
So my teacher said that an object farther from the center experiences greater centripetal acceleration. How is that possible? let's say we have a sun + planet system. F = GmM/r^2 so when the planet's r is greater, wouldn't the force become lower compared to the planet being closer to the sun?
 
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  • #2
When the planet's r is greater... the fource would become lower compared to the planet being FARTHER from the sun.

Also, call it star, not Sun. The Sun is our star
 
  • #3
gabriel.dac said:
When the planet's r is greater... the fource would become lower compared to the planet being FARTHER from the sun.

Also, call it star, not Sun. The Sun is our star

What if it was a ball attached to a string? How would that be different from a binary planet-star system?
 
  • #4
itachipower said:
What if it was a ball attached to a string? How would that be different from a binary planet-star system?

The planet would have smaller centripetal acceleration because it would be moving slower than if it was closer to the Sun. It needs less speed to stay in orbit
 
  • #5
gabriel.dac said:
The planet would have smaller centripetal acceleration because it would be moving slower than if it was closer to the Sun. It needs less speed to stay in orbit

Speed isn't a proper term in physics. In the case of circular motion, it's velocity that represents both (1) the rate of motion and (2) the direction.

Acceleration, on the other hand, is the change in velocity over time. Which is constantly changing direction in circular motion, albeit uniformly.

PF indicates a larger orbit will have a larger centripetal acceleration. See thread link in my next post.
 
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  • #6
itachipower said:
So my teacher said that an object farther from the center experiences greater centripetal acceleration. How is that possible? let's say we have a sun + planet system. F = GmM/r^2 so when the planet's r is greater, wouldn't the force become lower compared to the planet being closer to the sun?

Your teacher is correct. Physics Forum indicates so in a planetary example, but I'm wondering if planet's orbits are a proper example.

I'm having some doubts about the OP question - if planets are the example the textbook had in mind. If the period of the circular motion stays constant, the acceleration is obviously greater the further from the center. But gravitational orbits...

There's a homework help thread on this exact question here:
www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=548403

Hope a PF expert will reply and help sort this out.
 
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Related to Angular acceleration of a planet

1. What is angular acceleration of a planet?

Angular acceleration of a planet is the rate at which the planet's angular velocity changes over time. It is a measure of how quickly the planet is rotating around an axis.

2. How is angular acceleration of a planet calculated?

Angular acceleration of a planet can be calculated by dividing the change in the planet's angular velocity by the change in time. This can be represented by the formula: α = (ω2 - ω1) / (t2 - t1), where α is the angular acceleration, ω is the angular velocity, and t is the time.

3. What factors affect the angular acceleration of a planet?

The angular acceleration of a planet can be affected by several factors, including the planet's mass, distance from the sun, and the gravitational force exerted by other objects in its orbit. The planet's shape and rotation can also play a role in its angular acceleration.

4. How does angular acceleration relate to a planet's orbit?

Angular acceleration is directly related to a planet's orbit. As a planet's angular acceleration increases, its orbital speed also increases, causing it to orbit the sun at a faster rate. This means that the planet will complete its orbit in a shorter amount of time.

5. Can the angular acceleration of a planet change over time?

Yes, the angular acceleration of a planet can change over time. This can be due to external forces, such as gravitational pull from other planets, or internal changes within the planet, such as changes in its mass distribution. Certain events, such as collisions or meteor impacts, can also cause a sudden change in a planet's angular acceleration.

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