Tangential and radial acceleration

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving a ball swinging in a vertical circle, specifically focusing on the concepts of tangential and radial acceleration. The original poster presents a scenario where the ball's total acceleration is given in vector form, and they are tasked with determining the magnitude of its radial acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between total acceleration and its components, questioning the directionality of the acceleration. There is an attempt to resolve the total acceleration vector into its radial and tangential components.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered hints regarding the direction of acceleration components and the nature of motion, suggesting that the original poster reconsider the assumptions about tangential acceleration in this context. There is an ongoing exploration of how these components relate to the motion described.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the motion may not be uniform circular motion, which raises questions about the presence of tangential acceleration. The original poster's calculations and assumptions are under scrutiny, and there is a reference to a specific angle in the problem setup.

MechaMZ
Messages
127
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A ball swings in a vertical circle at the end of a rope 1.50 m long. When the ball is 37.5° past the lowest point on its way up, its total acceleration is (-22.5 i + 20.2 j) m/s2.


The Attempt at a Solution


Determine the magnitude of its radial acceleration.

My attempt, but wrong answer.
1. total acceleration = 30.237, by resolving (-22.5 i + 20.2 j) m/s2 into R
2. build a geometry triangle, to calculate ar
30.237sin 37.5 = ar

Homework Statement



I think the ans should about 27-29m/s2



Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 
Physics news on Phys.org
You found the magnitude of the total acceleration, but what about its direction?

Hint: Try working with each component of the total acceleration. How much of each component is in the radial direction?
 
MechaMZ said:
I think I understand now, there shouldn't have any tangential acceleration for this uniform circular motion. so the R is the ac.
This isn't uniform circular motion and the acceleration will have a tangential component. But no need to guess. Figure out the direction of the acceleration and how it compares with the direction of the rope.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
4K
Replies
2
Views
7K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
8K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K