- #1
Garen
- 28
- 0
Homework Statement
The Attempt at a Solution
I thought I could take the second derivative and get the angular acceleration from which I could use
Why Didn't Taking the Second Derivative Solve the Angular Acceleration Problem?
- Thread starter Garen
- Start date
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Homework Help Overview
The discussion revolves around a problem related to angular acceleration and the use of derivatives in physics. Participants are exploring the relationship between angular velocity, tangential acceleration, and total linear acceleration, particularly in the context of circular motion.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking
Approaches and Questions Raised
- Participants discuss the attempt to derive angular acceleration through the second derivative and question the completeness of considering only tangential acceleration. There is a focus on understanding the components of total linear acceleration, including the potential need to account for centripetal acceleration.
Discussion Status
Some participants have provided guidance on the necessity of including both tangential and centripetal acceleration in the calculation of total linear acceleration. There is an ongoing exploration of how to correctly combine these components, with no explicit consensus reached yet.
Contextual Notes
Participants are navigating the distinction between tangential and centripetal acceleration, indicating a potential misunderstanding of the total linear acceleration concept. The original poster's approach and assumptions are being critically examined.
I thought I could take the second derivative and get the angular acceleration from which I could use
- #2
alphysicist
Science Advisor
- 2,500
- 2
Hi Garen,
Are you saying that you put in the tangential acceleration as your answer? If so, remember that they are asking for the total linear acceleration, and there is more to the total acceleration than just the tangential part.
Garen said:Homework Statement
The Attempt at a Solution
I thought I could take the second derivative and get the angular acceleration from which I could usewhere ω is the angular velocity,
is the linear tangential acceleration, and r is the radius of curvature. But for some reason, it didn't give me the right answer, anyone know where I went wrong?
Are you saying that you put in the tangential acceleration as your answer? If so, remember that they are asking for the total linear acceleration, and there is more to the total acceleration than just the tangential part.
- #3
livewire852
- 3
- 0
aaaah thank you so much. i was totally stalking this post and you replied to it in a MOMENT OF PARADISE!
- #4
Garen
- 28
- 0
alphysicist said:
Oh, I thought that total linear acceleration was only the tangential acceleration...Would I have to include centripetal acceleration? If so, how?
- #5
alphysicist
Science Advisor
- 2,500
- 2
Garen said:
What is the formula for centripetal acceleration? (And remember that you have already found the angular velocity!)
Once you have found both components (the tangential and centripetal), the total is just the vector sum.
- #6
Garen
- 28
- 0
alphysicist said:
I got it! Thanks a lot for your help.
- #7
alphysicist
Science Advisor
- 2,500
- 2
Garen said:
Sure, glad to help!
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