Question

Deduce an expression for centripetal acceleration in UCM

Answer 1

If an object moves in a circle it changes its velocity i.e. it is accelerating. This acceleration is known as the centripetal acceleration.

or we can say that the centripetal acceleration is defined as the rate of change of tangential velocity.

Now we know that, the centripetal force required to keep a particle of mass ‘m’ revolving in a circular path of radius ‘r’ with a speed ‘v’ is,

F = mv 2 /r

Now, centripetal acceleration (a c ) is the radial acceleration due to the centripetal force.

Using,

a c = F/m

=> a c = [mv 2 /r]/m

=> a c = v 2 /r

The centripetal acceleration is directed along the radius in the circular motion.

hope this helps...