What is the magnitude of total acceleration for a particle on a circular path?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a particle moving along a circular path with a specified radius, speed, and rate of change of speed. Participants are discussing how to determine the magnitude of the total acceleration, which includes both tangential and normal components.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to identify the components of acceleration, questioning which values are given and which need to be calculated. There is discussion about the nature of tangential and normal acceleration.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided calculations and engaged in dialogue about the direction of acceleration components. There is a recognition of the relationship between the components and the overall acceleration, but no explicit consensus has been reached on the correctness of the calculations.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the definitions and implications of acceleration in circular motion, with some uncertainty about the application of the provided values and equations.

rasikan
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Homework Statement


A particle moves along a circular path having a radius of 2.0 m. At an instant when the speed of the particle is equal to 3.0 m/s and changing at the rate of 5.0 m/s2, what is the magnitude of the total acceleration of the particle?



Homework Equations


magitude= V^2/R




The Attempt at a Solution



But i don't know how to slove with this equation
 
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Acceleration is a vector. There will be a component tangent to the circle and a normal component. Which one is given to you in the problem statement and which do you have to find using your equation?
 
Dick,
v=3m/s
a=5 m/s^2

I guess I can find the magnitude when v=3 m/s . is that
right?


Dick said:
Acceleration is a vector. There will be a component tangent to the circle and a normal component. Which one is given to you in the problem statement and which do you have to find using your equation?
 
Ok, so what are the two components of the acceleration.
 
the two components are ax and ay
 
The components are normal to the circle and tangent to the circle, so x,y coordinates are probably not appropriate. I would say the tangent component is 5 m/s^2. Why would I say that?
 
coz that is a constant acceleration?
 
No, because they told me. If an object is moving on a circle and it's speed is changing at 5 m/s^2, in what direction is that acceleration pointed?
 
this is my calculation

a=Sq root of (at)^2+(ar)^2

at= 5m/s^2
ar=v^2/r= 9/2=4.5
a=sq root(5^2+4.5^2)
=6.7 m/s^2

is this is right??
 
  • #10
towards its center
Dick said:
No, because they told me. If an object is moving on a circle and it's speed is changing at 5 m/s^2, in what direction is that acceleration pointed?
 
  • #11
rasikan said:
towards its center

Your calculation is fine. What does "towards its center" mean? You labelled it as at in your calculation?
 
  • #12
u mean my answer is right??
 
  • #13
Yeah. Does that surprise you? If you're clear on the two components of the acceleration then I think you can go on to the next problem...
 
  • #14
yaa i got it now dick thanks for you help
 

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