Question

A 3.0 X 10^3 grams rock swings in a circle with a diameter of 1000 cm. Given the constant speed around the circle is 17.90 mph (a) what is the centripetal acceleration. *

Answer 1

Answer:

a = 12.8 m/s^2

Explanation:

To find the centripetal acceleration you use the following formula:

$a_c=\frac{v^2}{r}$   (1)

v: tangential speed of the rock = 17.90mph

r: radius of the orbit = 1000cm/2 = 500cm = 0.5m

You first change the units of the tangential velocity in order to replace the values of v and r in the equation (1):

$17.90mph*\frac{1609.34m}{1\ m}*\frac{1\ h}{3600\ s}=8m/s$

Then, you use the equation (1):

$a_c=\frac{(8m/s)^2}{5m}=12.8\frac{m}{s^2}$

hence, the centripetal acceleration is 12.8 m/s^2