Section 5.3 Tangential Acceleration
When an object moves along a curved path, the instantaneous acceleration can be broken into two components: one perpendicular to the curve (the centripetal acceleration) and one tangent to the curve (the tangential acceleration).
Definition 5.3.1. Tangential Acceleration.
The tangential acceleration of an object, \(a_t\text{,}\) points parallel to the instantaneous velocity, in the same direction if the object is speeding up and in the opposite direction if the object is slowing down.
Exercises Centripetal and Tangential Acceleration
Recall
Figure 5.1.2, which shows a car moving counterclockwise while slowing down.
1.
Indicate the direction of the centripetal acceleration of the car.
2.
Indicate the direction of the tangential acceleration of the car.
3.
Draw a vector for the instantaneous acceleration of the car. How did you use the previous answers?
4.
As the car moves around the track, slowing down, how does each acceleration (centripetal, tangential, and the combined instantaneous) change?
5.
Consider the questions from
Figure 5.1.1. How would you answer them after what you have learned so far?
