Question

A rigid body rotates about a fixed axis with a constant angular acceleration. Which one of the following statements is true concerning the tangential acceleration of any point on the body?
a. The tangential acceleration is zero m/s^2.
b. The tangential acceleration depends on the change in the angular velocity.
c. The tangential acceleration is constant in both magnitude and direction.
d. The tangential acceleration depends on the angular velocity.
e. The tangential acceleration is equal to the centripetal

Answer 1

To solve this problem it will be necessary to apply the concepts related to angular acceleration and tangential acceleration. Definitions are given in the description of the angular kinematic movement and describe these two expressions of acceleration as:

The angular acceleration of the object is written as,

$\alpha = \frac{\Delta \omega}{\Delta t}$

The tangential acceleration is

$a_T = \alpha r$

Therefore equating the two previously expression we have,

$a_T = \frac{\Delta \omega}{\Delta t} r$

Here we can conclude that the angular acceleration depends on the change in angular velocity.

Therefore the correct answer is B.