Isn't the normal acceleration always towards the center?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a misunderstanding of normal and tangential acceleration directions in a physics problem. The original poster calculated an acceleration direction that differed from the book's solution, questioning why this discrepancy occurred. It was clarified that the difference stemmed from measuring angles from different reference directions—horizontal versus vertical. The poster realized their diagram was misaligned with the problem's original diagram, leading to confusion. Ultimately, the issue was resolved by recognizing the orientation of the acceleration vectors.
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Homework Statement


Homework Equations



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The Attempt at a Solution


I solved the problem (on the same page as problem, written in pencil) but the direction of the acceleration that I calculated is different, I don't understand why my answer is wrong if the normal acceleration always towards the center and the tangent acceleration is suppossed to be clockwise.
 

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Yes, the radial acceleration is towards the center. But I don't see why you think your solution is different from the book's. Seems to me you are just measuring your angle from a different reference direction--they measure from the horizontal, you from the vertical.
 
Doc Al said:
Yes, the radial acceleration is towards the center. But I don't see why you think your solution is different from the book's. Seems to me you are just measuring your angle from a different reference direction--they measure from the horizontal, you from the vertical.

I think I measured from the horizontal, that's why I think my answer is different from the books, see diagram. Thanks!
 

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Looks to me like your diagram is sideways, compared to the original diagram given with the problem. What you call "horizontal" appears as vertical in the original diagram.
 
You are absolutely right, drew my acceleration vectors on the right side of the pulley, where there is no conveyor belt, that's why I got confused. Ok, thanks you.
 

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