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Motion on a Curved Racetrack

Theory: The text proves that the radial (centripetal)acceleration component points to the center of the circle and has a magnitude of when an object moves at speed v in a circle of radius r. This is true whether or not the object is changing speed. If the object changes speed it will also have a tangential component of acceleration.

Example.

You drive a go-cart around a go cart track, consisting of two arcs (radii shown on diagram) connected by two straight segments as shown. Indicate an acceleration of zero by writing a = 0.

(a) You drive at a constant 5.0 m/s. What is your acceleration (at points W, X, Y, and Z? Magnitude should be a number. To show direction, draw the acceleration vector (==>) at each point. Be sure that your vectors are to scale relative to each other.

(b) Your friend is more adventuresome. She drives the small arc at 5.0 m/s, then accelerates on the lower straight segment from 5 m/s to 15 m/s, which takes 5.0 s, drives the large arc at 15 m/s, and then slows back to 5.0 m/s in 5.0 s on the top straight segment. Find your friend's acceleration for the points W, X, Y, and Z for your friend. Magnitude should be a number. To show direction, draw the acceleration vector (==>) at each point. Be sure that your vectors are to scale relative to each other.