Question

Find the magnitude of average acceleration

Answer 1

We know that average acceleration = ∆v/∆t. Since the body is moving with constant speed v, the body is not going any linear acceleration. But wait, the direction in which a body is moving is continuously changing which implies that the velocity (speed with direction) is changing at every instant which means that velocity is changing. This type of acceleration is called 'centripetal acceleration'. And it's magnitude is v²/r where v is the speed and r is the radius of circle in which the body is moving. So the acceleration is v²/r irrespective of time taken.