Centripetal acceleration Definition and 407 Threads

Hello. Sorry for this very silly question, but I struggled myself too long on this (it was on the test and fortunataly I could answer correctly, but have not understood how to solve that). I know a particle, in a certain instant, has position ##(x_0,y_0,z_0)## I know the velocity magnitude...

Homework Statement A conical pendulum with an unelastic tether has a mass of 4.25 kg attached to it. The tether is 2.78 m. The mass travels around the center every 3.22 seconds. What angle does the rope make in relation to its original position? m=4.25 kg T=3.22 s L=2.78 m Homework Equations...

How would you go about proving that centripetal F=(mv^2)/r by diagramming and solving for the magnitude of the forces in the x and y direction? For example, suppose I wanted to calculate the work done in the radial direction by centripetal force.

Homework Statement Two cars drive around in circles at constant speeds. Car B's circle is twice as large as car A's, but its centripetal acceleration is three times as large. How many times faster is car B driving than car A? Homework Equations I'm trying to use a=(v^2/r) for centripetal...

I'm stuck on this problem: A small sphere is attached to a fixed point by a string of length =30cm , and whirls round in a vertical circle under the action of gravity at such speed that the tension in the string when the sphere is at its lowest point is three times the tension when the sphere is...

Homework Statement http://puu.sh/c0p5S/2fb2185acf.png Homework Equations I think a relevant eqn would be v=wr. The Attempt at a Solution I think answer is option A since Va/Vb=WRa/WRb. Is it correct? if not what is the right answer?

A fairgrounds ride spins its occupants inside a flying-saucer-shaped container. If the horizontal circular path the riders follow has a 8.00 m radius, at how many revolutions per minute will the riders be subjected to a centripetal acceleration 2.60 times that of gravity?

I've spent hours on this question: A truck of mass 4500 kg is traveling in a fog due north at 20 m/s. Suddenly, at point A, the driver notices a wall straight ahead. He makes a sharp right turn along path AB, which is one-quarter of a circle of 50 m radius. He does this without any change in...

Homework Statement My guess is no because if you have a ball on a string, for there to be angular acceleration, the angular velocity must increase so you need an increasing tangential speed, so your centripetal acceleration must increase (α=v2/r)... but I'm not sure. One other question...

[SIZE="4"]Definition/Summary Centripetal acceleration of something moving in a circle is the component of its acceleration towards the centre of the circle. [SIZE="4"]Equations a_c=-\omega^2 r a_c=-\frac{v^2}{r} These apply if m and r are fixed, and even if \omega and v are not...

Homework Statement (a) What is the tangential acceleration of a bug on the rim of a 78 rpm record 10 in. in diameter if the record moves from rest to its final angular velocity in 3 s? (b) When the record is at its final speed, what is the tangential velocity of the bug? Its tangential...

Homework Statement The moon circles the Earth with a period of 27.3 days at a distance of about 250000 mi. Find the centripetal acceleration of the moon.Homework Equations ac = v2/r The Attempt at a Solution I first found the velocity by converting 2 pi radians per 27.3 days to radians per...

In introductory physics books (or at least mine) it limits the equation a_c=\frac{v^2}{r} to the sitaution where the speed around the circular path is constant. It enforces the idea that the speed is CONSTANT. But wouldn't the equation also apply to non-constant speeds? (a_c would just...

When having a circular acceleration motion, we have both tangential acceleration and centripetal acceleration. The tangential acceleration is aT=r*α where α=1/2*(ωf-ω0). So we can see tha aT is dependant on both the initial angular velocity ω0 and the final ωf). For centripetal...

Homework Statement A car is traveling round a bend which is banked at an angle of 30 to the horizontal. The bend is assumed to be in the shape of an arc of a circle of radius 80m. the surface of the road is rough and the coefficient of friction between the tyres of the and the surface of the...

Homework Statement A parcel sits on a seat angled θ to the horizontal. The car is traveling along a local radius of curvature of 80m and is traveling 20m/s at the dip. For what value of theta will the parcel not slip? Will someone check that my force diagram is correct? Thanks, cmcd...

Homework Statement There is a famous thought experiment that Newton put forward: imagine a very tall mountain where there is no air friction. We'll put a cannon on top of this mountain, and we'll fire cannon balls put of with greater and greater velocities in the horizontal direction. Let's...

My question is about the centripetal acceleration formula |a| = ω^2*r. If we keep the angular speed constant then why does increasing the radius increase the centripetal acceleration? I don't find this intuitive because the velocity vector is being turned by the same amount each second, if ω is...

An object weighing 4 Newtons swings on the end of a string as a simple pendulum. At the bottom the swing, the tension in the string is 6 Newtons. What is the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration of the object at the bottom of the swing.Centripetal Acc. = v^2/r Sum of forces =...

Homework Statement A centrifuge rotates at 12000rpm, what is the radians per second? If the radius of the centrifuge is 150mm, what is the centripetal acceleration? Homework Equations Angular Velocity: ω = Δθ/Δt (maybe, not sure) Centripetal Acceleration: a = v2 / r The Attempt at a...

I am curious how to tell how centripetal accel. changes with radius since there are two equations I can look at a = v2/r or a=wr I read on a thread that if v is constant then use the top equation and if w is constant then use the bottom equation. Is this true? If so, can you please give...

Homework Statement A bridge over a small river has a roadway which is in the shape of an arch having radius of curvature of 41 m. What is the maximum speed at which an automobile can travel across the bridge without leaving the bridge? Homework Equations Fc = (mv^2)/r Fg= mg The Attempt...

It is generally said that centripetal acceleration is directed towards the center of the circular path along the radius. So can we say that centripetal acceleration is a linear acceleration. Is it or can it be represented along a straight line. I had a question in my exams. A kid is rotating a...

Homework Statement An object of mass m1 of 4.00kg is tied to an object of mass m2 of 3.00kg with a string of length 0.5m. The combination is then swung in a verticular circular path on a second string of length 4.00m. The two strings are always colinear (they are on the same line). At the...

Mg=[1600∏2m(L+a)(1/t2)]- b M is the mass of the slotted weight g is the gravitational force m is the mass of the sticky tape L is the length of the nylon thread measured from the end of the plastic tube to the sticky tape t is the time for 20 revolutions of the sticky tape a and b are...

The radius of the Earth's orbit about the sun is about 1.5x10^11m. The mass of the Earth is 5.98x^10^24kg Equations: ac= v^2/r ac=4∏^2/r v=2∏r/T I could not figure out what to do so i could not attempt it

1. An athlete whirls a 7.48 kg hammer tied to the end of a 1.4 m chain in a horizontal circle. The hammer moves at the rate of 1.76 rev/s. What is the centripetal acceleration of the hammer? Assume his arm length is included in the length given for the chain. Answer in units of m/s...

Homework Statement A bucket of mass 2.00 kg is whirled in a vertical circle of radius 1.10 m. At the lowest point of its motion the tension in the rope supporting the bucket is 25.0 N. (a) Find the speed of the bucket. (b) How fast must the bucket move at the top of the circle so that the...

Homework Statement An Earth satellite moves in a circular orbit 790 km above the Earth's surface. The period of the motion is 100.5 min. (a) What is the speed of the satellite? (b) What is the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration of the satellite?Homework Equations a= v2 / r T = (2 Pi...

Purely mathematically, how does the expression for the centripetal acceleration a=v^2/R give information about the direction of the acceleration vector? I don't seem to notice any indication that the acceleration vector should be perpendicular to the velocity, or pointing towards the center...

Homework Statement A moon orbits a planet of unknown mass with a period of 1.8 days. If the radius of the moon's orbit is 420,000,000 meters, find the mass of the planet. Homework Equations For the speed of the moon I got: v=2 x pie x r / v 2 x pie x 420000000 / v = 1.8 days or...

Homework Statement An amusement ride with a radius of 4.8m allows riders to experience 4.3g's of centripetal acceleration. What is the frequency of the ride? Homework Equations a_{c}= 4∏^{2}r∫^{2} The Attempt at a Solution a_{c}=4.3 r=4.8m ∫=? I keep getting a weird...

Homework Statement A bike is travel up and over a hill with a radius at the top of the hill of 10 meters. The bike is traveling at 10 m/s at position A and 5 m/s at position. (and the problem comes with a picture showing an angle of 60* between point A and B. a. Determine the average...

The centripetal acceleration of a circle is: a_c = \frac{v^2}{r} * u_n. The acceleration of an ellipse is different. It increases from from apoapsis to periapsis as the position changes from furthest point in the orbit to the closest. Then decreases from from periapsis to apoapsis as the...

Homework Statement a) After take-off an airplane takes a U-turn tilting the plane 45 degrees to one side. The speed and height is constant. Find the centripetal acceleration. Mass: 79010 kg Engine Fmax: 2x 121.4 kN b) The U-turn took 47 seconds. What is the velocity in km/h of the airplane...

Hello, my textbook says that the magnitude of centripetal acceleration is equal to the sum of the forces acting on that object. (this is in regard to an object in a circular path, by a string. See...

Hi guys, first off, thanks for answering my previous question... Now here's another one. I got confused by my school's homework a bit...so there's a car that travels over a humpback bridge with a radius of 45m, so basically it's a semicircle bridge, and so I'm supposed to calculate the...

Hi all, new user here and straight in with a question to help me understand something. Not sure if I'm in the right sub-forum but oh well. Regarding circular motion and centripetal acceleration, we're given the classic example of a cyclist leaning into a corner to create a general equilibrium...

We all know that something traveling in cicular motion at a constant speed has a centripetal acceleration towards the axis of rotation. I suppose this means we (travelling around the axis of rotation of the earth) also require a centripetal acceleration. This can be provided by gravity which is...

Homework Statement Draw a free body diagram of each object in Italics, that is in centripetal acceleration, and name the force causing this centripetal acceleration. a. Moon in circular orbit around Earth. b. Electron in circular orbit around nucleus of atom . c. Snowboarder slides over...

Homework Statement I know the answer and how to get it, but it doesn't make sense because a[SIZE="1"]c points down and so does g. So why do they seem to cancel each other out? What is the minimum constant speed a motorbiker needs in order to make it around a vertical loop with a radius of 3...

Homework Statement The Earth has a mass of 6 x 10 24kg and orbits the sun in 3.15 x 10 7 seconds at a constant circular distance of 1.5 x 10 11 m. What is the Earth's centripetal acceleration around the Sun? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution

Hi guys, I'm confused why friction is able to cause centripetal acceleration on a car that is turning in a circular road. Firstly, I think the radial acceleration is provided by the engine alone, and at any point of time the car velocity is tangential to the circular path, and friction is only...

Homework Statement A van is moving on a horizontal circular bend in the road of radius 75m. The bend is banked at arctan(1/3) to the horizontal. The maximum speed at which the van can be driven around the bend without slipping is 25m/s. Calculate the coefficient of friction between the road...

Homework Statement A small truck of mass 1600kg rides in a circle of which has a radius of 40m at a constant speed of 70m/s Calculate: (a) its centripetal acceleration (b)the centripetal force acting. Homework Equations a_{centripetal} = {v^2 \over r} \\ F_{centripetal} = {mv^2 \over r}...

Question #1) In a new bungee sport a 70 kg rider is projected from the shore, out into a lake for a splash with a human scale slingshot. The stretched slingshot is made with a set of 50 cylindrical rubber tubes 1) stretched at a 45 degree angle from the horizontal. The tubes are cylindrical...

This is my first post on here so let me know if I need to provide more info. Homework Statement A proposed space station includes living quarters in a circular ring 52.5 m in diameter. At what angular speed should the ring rotate so the occupants feel that they have the same weight as they do...

Homework Statement Two objects, m1 and m2, both of mass m, are place on a horizontal platform which is rotating at a constant angular velocity. m1 is located at a distance R from the axis of rotation and m2 is located at a R. The centripetal acceleration of mass m1 ____ to the centripetal...

Homework Statement A pilot, whose mass is 96.0 kg, makes a loop-the-loop in a fast jet. Assume that the jet maintains a constant speed of 225 m/s and that the radius of the loop-the-loop is 2.064 km. What is the apparent weight that the pilot feels (i.e., the force with which the pilot...

Does changing the radius or changing the speed affect centripetal accelereation more? Why?