Angular Acceleration Problem

1. Oct 29, 2008

Garen

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

3. The attempt at a solution
I thought I could take the second derivative and get the angular acceleration from which I could use where ω is the angular velocity, is the linear tangential acceleration, and r is the radius of curvature. But for some reason, it didn't give me the right answer, anyone know where I went wrong?

2. Oct 30, 2008

alphysicist

Hi Garen,

Are you saying that you put in the tangential acceleration as your answer? If so, remember that they are asking for the total linear acceleration, and there is more to the total acceleration than just the tangential part.

3. Oct 30, 2008

livewire852

aaaah thank you so much. i was totally stalking this post and you replied to it in a MOMENT OF PARADISE!!!!!

4. Oct 30, 2008

Garen

Oh, I thought that total linear acceleration was only the tangential acceleration...Would I have to include centripetal acceleration? If so, how?

5. Oct 30, 2008

alphysicist

What is the formula for centripetal acceleration? (And remember that you have already found the angular velocity!)

Once you have found both components (the tangential and centripetal), the total is just the vector sum.

6. Oct 30, 2008

Garen

I got it! Thanks a lot for your help.

7. Oct 30, 2008

alphysicist

Sure, glad to help!