Centripetal Acceleration Equation
Reference from the original Physics I textbook.
- Centripetal Acceleration Equation
Centripetal acceleration magnitude: a_c = v²/r = rω². Its direction is inward toward the center.
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Reviewed physics notes (1)
These corrections keep the original lesson’s purpose while fixing errors in the source edition.
- Vector acceleration cannot equal scalar v²/r without a direction. — Reference 1
Glossary and deeper reading · 1 refreshers
These editorial refreshers supplement the reading. Definitions and examples are added guidance; original source wording and recorded answers remain in their original context.
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Centripetal acceleration
Centripetal acceleration is the inward acceleration component that changes the direction of motion along a curved path. For circular motion its magnitude is speed squared divided by the circle’s radius. For example, a car moving at constant speed around a bend still has centripetal acceleration.