Radial and Tangential Acceleration

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the tangential and total acceleration of a train slowing down while navigating a circular turn. The train decelerates from 68 km/h to 26 km/h over 17.7 seconds, with a curve radius of 0.184 km. The tangential acceleration is determined using the formula for average acceleration, while the total acceleration combines both radial and tangential components. The user emphasizes the need to convert units to meters and assumes constant tangential acceleration throughout the turn.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic kinematics, specifically acceleration concepts
  • Familiarity with circular motion and the formulas for radial and tangential acceleration
  • Ability to convert units, particularly from kilometers per hour to meters per second
  • Knowledge of calculus, specifically derivatives, to comprehend tangential acceleration
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of tangential acceleration in circular motion
  • Learn how to calculate radial acceleration using the formula a[r] = v^2/r
  • Explore the concept of total acceleration in circular motion and its calculation
  • Practice unit conversions, especially between km/h and m/s for physics problems
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of circular motion and acceleration calculations.

niyati
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A train slows down at a constant rate as it rounds a sharp circular horizontal turn. Its initial speed is not known. It takes 17.7 s to slow down from 68 km/h to 26 km/h. The radius of the curve is .184 km. As the train goes around the turn, (a) what is the magnitude to the tangential component of the acceleration and (b) at the moment the train's speed is 59 km/h, what is the magnitude of the total acceleration? Answer in units of m/s^2.

(a) Tangential acceleration is given by dlvl/dt. However, I am finding the average acceleration by subtracting 68 from 26, and then dividing it by 17.7 seconds. The negative sign would disappear. However, tangential acceleration is the derivative of velocity at that moment, not the average acceleration over a period of time. D:

(b) Total acceleration is the quadrature of radial acceleration and tangential acceleration. I suppose I could square my answer in (a), and then compute a[r] by squaring 59 and dividing it by .184 (and then tacking on the negative sign). Once I have a[r] and a[t], I will square them both, add them, and then take the square root. But, could I use the different part derived from different velocities (tangential acc. deals with a range of velocities, while radial acc. has the one given in the problem)?

I know, also, that I must convert everything to meters, but I will do that last.
 
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I think they want you to assume tangential acceleration is constant over the turn...

everything looks good.
 
Wow.

Thanks. (Yay for getting better at this. Even if it's just plugging in numbers.)
 

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