- #1
nashsth
- 16
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In a non-uniform circular motion (for example a pendulum), can the centripetal/radial acceleration ever be 0? Likewise, can the tangential acceleration ever be 0?
The centripetal acceleration occurs because of the centripetal force, which causes the body (in the example of the pendulum, the bob is the body) to continue moving in its path. So if the centripetal acceleration is 0, then doesn't that imply that the centripetal force is 0, which means that the object would stop going in a circular path? So is it correct to say that the centripetal acceleration is never 0 in a non-uniform circular motion?
As for the tangential acceleration, it is caused by a change in speed of the body. So, in the pendulum example, since the bob has 0 speed at its peak positions, would it have 0 tangential acceleration only at its peak positions? NOTE: Peak position = the maximum position that a pendulum will attain before swinging down again.
I am asking because I am having trouble figuring out a (simple) physics question, which asks at which positions a frictionless piece of ice moving in a semi-circular bowl have 0 centripetal acceleration, but non-zero tangential acceleration. So if I am correct, then that would mean that the piece of ice has a non-zero centripetal acceleration at all times, and it has 0 tangential acceleration at its peak positions?
The centripetal acceleration occurs because of the centripetal force, which causes the body (in the example of the pendulum, the bob is the body) to continue moving in its path. So if the centripetal acceleration is 0, then doesn't that imply that the centripetal force is 0, which means that the object would stop going in a circular path? So is it correct to say that the centripetal acceleration is never 0 in a non-uniform circular motion?
As for the tangential acceleration, it is caused by a change in speed of the body. So, in the pendulum example, since the bob has 0 speed at its peak positions, would it have 0 tangential acceleration only at its peak positions? NOTE: Peak position = the maximum position that a pendulum will attain before swinging down again.
I am asking because I am having trouble figuring out a (simple) physics question, which asks at which positions a frictionless piece of ice moving in a semi-circular bowl have 0 centripetal acceleration, but non-zero tangential acceleration. So if I am correct, then that would mean that the piece of ice has a non-zero centripetal acceleration at all times, and it has 0 tangential acceleration at its peak positions?
