# Angular Acceleration Problem

1. ### Garen

31
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. ### alphysicist

2,248
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. ### livewire852

3
aaaah thank you so much. i was totally stalking this post and you replied to it in a MOMENT OF PARADISE!!!!!

4. ### Garen

31
Oh, I thought that total linear acceleration was only the tangential acceleration...Would I have to include centripetal acceleration? If so, how?

5. ### alphysicist

2,248
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. ### Garen

31
I got it! Thanks a lot for your help.

7. ### alphysicist

2,248
Sure, glad to help!

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