Angular Velo, Tangential Acceleration

AI Thread Summary
Tangential acceleration in uniform circular motion can be expressed as a = r(alpha), where alpha is the angular acceleration (d(omega)/dt). However, the manipulation involving canceling dt is incorrect, as dt is not an unknown variable. Instead, the relationship should be framed as dv = r d(omega) = a_t dt, linking tangential acceleration directly to the change in velocity over time. The correct formulas for tangential acceleration are a_t = r(omega)^2 or a_t = v^2/r, depending on the available information. Clarifying these relationships is essential for accurate calculations in circular motion dynamics.
agross
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I have computed angular speed, centripetal acceleration, and torque for a uniform circular motion.

What is the tangential acceleration?

I am leaning towards tangential a = r(alpha) where alpha is d(omega)/dt.
since I have calculated omega and a = dv/dt - I think its safe to
say that as dt cancels dv = r d(omega) = a tangential?

Any tips?
 
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agross said:
I am leaning towards tangential a = r(alpha) where alpha is d(omega)/dt.
since I have calculated omega and a = dv/dt - I think its safe to
say that as dt cancels dv = r d(omega) = a tangential?

This is a very strange mathematical manipulation, because dt, is not actually an unknown by itself, and not directly "cancel-able". Tangential a, for uniform circular motion is given by r(omega)2 or v2/r depending on what information you have.
 
agross said:
I have computed angular speed, centripetal acceleration, and torque for a uniform circular motion.

What is the tangential acceleration?

I am leaning towards tangential a = r(alpha) where alpha is d(omega)/dt.
since I have calculated omega and a = dv/dt - I think its safe to
say that as dt cancels dv = r d(omega) = a tangential?

This is not correct; for one thing the units are not the same (m/s^2 on the right hand side, m/s on the others).

If you start with:

<br /> \frac{dv}{dt} = r \frac{d\omega}{dt} = a_t<br />

(where v is the speed along the circular path and a_t[/itex] is the tangential acceleration), then you can rewrite this as:<br /> <br /> &lt;br /&gt; dv = r\ d\omega = a_t\ dt&lt;br /&gt;<br /> <br /> so the dt term is now associated with the tangential acceleration.<br /> <br /> <br /> It&#039;s not clear from your post what other information you might have; but you can relate the torque to the total acceleration, and then relate total acceleration to the tangential acceleration.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="" data-quote="horatio89" data-source="post: 1979416" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> horatio89 said: </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> This is a very strange mathematical manipulation, because dt, is not actually an unknown by itself, and not directly &quot;cancel-able&quot;. Tangential a, for uniform circular motion is given by r(omega)<sup>2</sup> or v<sup>2</sup>/r depending on what information you have. </div> </div> </blockquote><br /> <br /> I don&#039;t believe those equations are correct.
 
Ah, sorry, my mistake... I was using the equations for radial acceleration. Thanks for pointing it out.
 
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