# Homework Help: Find the magnitude of acceleration along a curved path

1. Nov 1, 2011

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

First I was asked to parametrize the motion according to $\theta$ and I got
x: -cos $\theta$+1 and y:-sin$\theta$+1

Now, I have to find the magnitude of the acceleration along the path at a point given by $\theta$.
How do I do this?
Also, I only have figured out the equation for the curve of the track in terms of theta. Is there any way to describe the motion of the ball in terms of time using this equation?

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution
So normally, the acceleration would be the second derivative of the position function. So Would I just derive the position function twice to get the acceleration? How does this translate to the magnitude? The square root of the x component of the acceleration squared plus the y component squared?
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

Last edited: Nov 1, 2011