# Tangential and centripetal acceleration

1. Nov 15, 2014

### RaamGeneral

Hello.

Sorry for this very silly question, but I struggled myself too long on this (it was on the test and fortunataly I could answer correctly, but have not understood how to solve that).

I know a particle, in a certain instant, has position $(x_0,y_0,z_0)$
I know the velocity magnitude $\vec{v} = v_p \hat{\tau}$

where tau is the tangent unit vector.
And I know also the acceleration vector:
$\vec{a}=a_0\hat{x}+a_0\hat{y}$

I have to find the tangential and centripetal acceleration of the particle at that instant.

Thanks.

2. Nov 15, 2014

### td21

tangential acc is a times tau.
you can then figure out centripetal acceleration.

3. Nov 16, 2014

### RaamGeneral

Ok, I think I should insert the numbers here, because I have to figure out the numerical value and I do know nothing about tau.
position $(x_0 = \sqrt 3 m , y_0=1 m , z_0 =2.12 m)$
$v_p = 4.78 m/s$
$a_0 = 6.01 m/s^2$

I have only this, nothing less, nothing more.

4. Nov 17, 2014