1. Chapter 7 Rotational Motion and the Law of Gravity
Centripetal Acceleration
HMH Physics Ch 7 pages
Section 4 pages

2. Objectives Define Centripetal Acceleration.
Calculate Centripetal Acceleration.
Describe why Centripetal Acceleration is center
seeking.

5. Centripetal (center seeking) acceleration - a change in direction of velocity
ac = centripetal acceleration (m/s2)
vt2 r2 r
vt = tangential speed (m/s)
 = angular speed (rad/s)
r = radius (m)
ac =
ac=

6. A test car moves at a constant speed around a circular track
A test car moves at a constant speed around a circular track. If the car is 48.2 m from the track’s center, and has a centripetal acceleration of 8.05 m/s2, what is the tangential speed?