Find the velocity and acceleration vectors for uniform circular motion

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the velocity and acceleration vectors for uniform circular motion, specifically focusing on the centripetal acceleration. The original poster presents a series of questions related to the motion of a particle, including its position, velocity, and acceleration as functions of time, expressed in terms of angular frequency (omega), radius (R), and pi.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the process of deriving velocity and acceleration from the particle's position function. There are inquiries about the second derivative of the position function and how to correctly apply differentiation to find acceleration.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on the differentiation process, suggesting ways to simplify the derivatives by focusing on the trigonometric functions first. The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring various interpretations of the differentiation steps without reaching a consensus.

Contextual Notes

The original poster indicates they have completed parts A-D of the problem but are struggling with parts E and beyond. There is a request for assistance with the differentiation process, highlighting potential gaps in the original problem statement.

cdlegendary
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Homework Statement


To find the velocity and acceleration vectors for uniform circular motion and to recognize that this acceleration is the centripetal acceleration.
Suppose that a particle's position is given by the following expression:
%7D%28t%29%3D+R%5B%5Ccos%28%5Comega+t%29%5Chat%7Bi%7D+%2B+%5Csin%28%5Comega+t%29%5Chat%7Bj%7D%5D.gif

2C%5C+%5Cqquad+%3D+R%5Ccos%28%5Comega+t%29%5Chat%7Bi%7D+%2B+R%5Csin%28%5Comega+t%29%5Chat%7Bj%7D.gif


A.) Choose the answer that best completes the following sentence:
The particle's motion at t=0 can be described by ____________.

B.) When does the particle first cross the negative x axis?
Express your answer in terms of some or all of the variables omega, R, and pi.

C.) Find the particle's velocity as a function of time.
Express your answer using unit vectors (e.g., A i_unit+ B j_unit, where A and B are functions of omega, R, t, and pi).

D.) Find the speed of the particle at time t.
Express your answer in terms of some or all of the variables omega, R, and pi.

E.) Now find the acceleration of the particle.
Express your answer using unit vectors (e.g., A i_unit+ B j_unit, where A and B are functions of omega, R, t, and pi).

F.) Your calculation is actually a derivation of the centripetal acceleration. To see this, express the acceleration of the particle in terms of its position r_vec(t).
Express your answer in terms of some or all of the variables r_vec(t) and omega.

H.) Finally, express the magnitude of the particle's acceleration in terms of R and v using the expression you obtained for the speed of the particle.
Express your answer in terms of one or both of the variables R and v.

The Attempt at a Solution


I did parts A-D. But am stuck starting with Part E, and haven't really tried the rest
below is the particle's velocity as a function of time. I know to get acceleration you're supposed to take the derivative of that, but I seem to be getting it wrong. If anyone could help me out I would appreciate it.

t%29%5Chat%7Bi%7D%2B%7B%5Comega%7DR%7B%5Ccos%7D%5Cleft%28%7B%5Comega%7Dt%5Cright%29%5Chat%7Bj%7D.gif
 
Last edited:
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The question is not complete. Post the complete question.
 
Alright sorry, whole question is up.
 
Your method sounds good. What did you get for the second derivative of r(t)?
 
derivative of r(t) is:
t%29%5Chat%7Bi%7D%2B%7B%5Comega%7DR%7B%5Ccos%7D%5Cleft%28%7B%5Comega%7Dt%5Cright%29%5Chat%7Bj%7D.gif


My main issue is I can't find the derivative of a(t) from the v(t) eq. or at least, I seem to be doing it wrong.
 
You found the derivative of r(t):

v(t) = \frac{dr}{dt} = -{\omega}R{\sin}\left({\omega}t\right)\hat{i}+{\omega}R{\cos}\left({\omega}t\right)\hat{j}

So find a(t)=dv/dt in just the same way.
 
would the derivative be:
ght%29%5Chat%7Bi%7D-R%7B%5Comega%7D%7B%5Csin%7D%5Cleft%28%7B%5Comega%7Dt%5Cright%29%5Chat%7Bj%7D.gif
 
Almost. You forgot to bring out the omega. It might help to ignore the scalars (constants R and omega on the OUTSIDE of your functions) when taking the derivative. Try just

\frac{d}{dt}( -{\sin}\left({\omega}t\right)\hat{i}+{\cos}\left({\omega}t\right)\hat{j})

then put the factors back in! (Hint: you should get omega squared!)
 

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