What is the Translational Acceleration at a Point on the Rim at t=10?

[studentofphy]

I have a physics problem that is asking about translational acceleration... it says this:

"What is the magnitude of the translational acceleration at a point on the rim at t=10?"

Is this referring to a=(r)(alpha)

or is it referring to:

a=(a_t^2+a_c^2)^1/2

 

[tiny-tim]

hi studentofphy!

"What is the magnitude of the translational acceleration at a point on the rim at t=10?"

hmm … "translational acceleration" is normally used as being the opposite of "rotational acceleration" …

it applies to a rigid body, and it means the acceleration of the centre of mass, as opposed to the angular acceleration about the centre of mass

i honestly don't see how you apply it to a point

my guess is that it means "transverse acceleration" (ie "tangential acceleration")

but it could mean the full acceleration (since obviously the angular accelearrtoin of a point about itself is irrelevant)​