Centripetal Acceleration

Using polar coordinates, we can now describe the acceleration vector as having a radial component (in the direction of r) and a tangential component (in the direction of theta).

From our definition of uniform circular motion (constant speed, constant radius), it should be obvious that the tangential component of the acceleration vector is zero. The speed of the object remains the same.

But what about the radial component of acceleration? From your reading, you should know that the radial component of acceleration, usually called the CENTRIPETAL ACCELERATION, is found from the formula:

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