Uniform circular motion

[chiddler]

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Why and how do you prove that acceleration in uniform circular motion is perpendicular to the velocity?

Thank yous.

 

[MedPR]

Why and how do you prove that acceleration in uniform circular motion is perpendicular to the velocity?

Thank yous.

Acceleration is a change in velocity. If you draw two velocity vectors tangent to a circle, and subtract vo from v, you get deltav (acceleration). The direction of the difference vector is perpendicular to both velocity vector.

I don't know why you would prove it though.

 

[Ssina]

Acceleration is a change in velocity. If you draw two velocity vectors tangent to a circle, and subtract vo from v, you get deltav (acceleration). The direction of the difference vector is perpendicular to both velocity vector.

I don't know why you would prove it though.

or think of it in terms of the force... you accelerate in the direction of the applied force... so has to be toward the center, where the centripetal force is directed to keep it moving in UCM.

with that said, MedPR's response is better if you want to see it mathematically.

 

[MedPR]

or think of it in terms of the force... you accelerate in the direction of the applied force... so has to be toward the center, where the centripetal force is directed to keep it moving in UCM.

with that said, MedPR's response is better if you want to see it mathematically.

And centrifugal force is directed outwards, but still perpendicular if I remember correctly.

 

[chiddler]

Acceleration is a change in velocity. If you draw two velocity vectors tangent to a circle, and subtract vo from v, you get deltav (acceleration). The direction of the difference vector is perpendicular to both velocity vector.

I don't know why you would prove it though.

Just so I can have a better understanding. Not a passage question or anything like that.

Thanks very much for both responses to my question. Helped a lot!

 

[Ssina]

And centrifugal force is directed outwards, but still perpendicular if I remember correctly.

I'm pretty sure it should be pointing inward, toward the center of the circle
EDIT: never mind, read -petal instead of -fugal!!! my bad missing **** like this always costs me couple of points

 

[chiddler]

I'm pretty sure it should be pointing inward, toward the center of the circle
EDIT: never mind, read -petal instead of -fugal!!! my bad missing **** like this always costs me couple of points

think of petals on a flower. if you make them into a triangle, they point inwards 😀

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Petal-sepal.jpg/220px-Petal-sepal.jpg