Homework Help: Acceleration in a circle

1. Mar 18, 2012

TheronSimon

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A fly sitting on the end of the second hand of a clock is traveling in a circle. The second hand has a length of 25 cm. Calculate the average acceleration of the fly.

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution\
since only one measurment is given who would i calculate for acceleration?

Last edited: Mar 18, 2012
2. Mar 18, 2012

DeIdeal

Do you know the equation for centripetal acceleration? It could be useful here, seeing as the fly is travelling in a circle ... ; )

After that you should consider the velocity: It's a clock, you should be able to figure out how fast the hands are moving. And whether they are accelerating or not.

Sorry if I gave out too much or not enough information, I'm not sure what's usually considered an appropriate amount.

3. Mar 18, 2012

TheronSimon

lol i didnt even think of the fact that its a clock :P
so

a= 4$\pi$2 R / T2

a = 4$\pi$2 * 0.24 / 602

a= 0.0027

4. Mar 18, 2012

Staff: Mentor

Remember also that acceleration is a vector quantity; it has both magnitude and direction. You're being asked to find the average acceleration...

5. Mar 18, 2012

TheronSimon

0.0027 m/s^2? lol im sorry i dont know what else you would mean

6. Mar 18, 2012

DeIdeal

Yeah, if the question actually asks for average acceleration (didn't even notice that earlier, sorry), you should definitely consider the direction of the acceleration as well.

7. Mar 18, 2012

TheronSimon

but what do you mean by that its going in a circle what direction could it have?

8. Mar 18, 2012

TheronSimon

directed towards the centre?

9. Mar 19, 2012

TheronSimon

hello? any help?

10. Mar 19, 2012

emailanmol

Think of the clock being at 3 o clock.Acceleration is towards the centre i.e towards negative x axis.

At 6 o clock acceleration is towards centre again but along positive y axis.

So although the magnitude is constant , the direction isn't which has to be taken into consideration else you will get the wrong answer.( For eg when the particle has covered an entire circle avg acceleration is 0 and not the value you got.
This is because accelerations at exactly opposite diametrical ends cancel out.
Like acceleration at 6 o clock is upwards and is cancelled by the acceleration at 12 o clock which is downwards.
All such pairs like 12:05 amd 6:35 cancel out to yield 0 as average acceleration

You have found the avg magnitude of acceleration.Not avg acceleration)

to find avg acceleration

Write the value of position vector at any point in terms of sin(m) and cos (m).(here m is angle of rotation.I am via cell so cant type theta).

Differentiate it twice wrt time to obtain the acceleration vector at any m.

Then we will guide you further on how to obtain avg. acceleration from the equation you just obtained

Last edited: Mar 19, 2012
11. Mar 19, 2012

shyguy79

Think of the right hand rule for centripetal acceleration... what direction does the hands on a clock go and what is the resultant direction?

12. Mar 19, 2012

Staff: Mentor

Suppose the acceleration of the fly is always directed towards the center of the clock face. How would you determine an average for the acceleration? What does "average" mean?

13. Mar 19, 2012

TheronSimon

so i asked my teacher about it and it wants centripetal acceleration not average

14. Mar 19, 2012

emailanmol

Even if it asks just the acceleration,