Constant acceleration changes direction twice

This is because the direction of the velocity vector is constantly changing, resulting in a changing acceleration vector. Therefore, the tangential acceleration cannot be considered constant in this scenario. In summary, an object attached to a string spinning at constant velocity will have a tangential acceleration of zero, but the overall acceleration will not be constant due to the changing direction of the velocity vector.
  • #1
spikehoward
Hello,

I just did a practice physics problem that asked if an object with constant acceleration can change direction twice. The answer was no. What if you had an object attached to a string spinning at constant velocity. Is the tangential acceleration constant?
 
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  • #2
spikehoward said:
What if you had an object attached to a string spinning at constant velocity. Is the tangential acceleration constant?

the tangential acceleration is zero because there is no change in speed and the direction of the acceleration is radial
 
  • #3
spikehoward said:
I just did a practice physics problem that asked if an object with constant acceleration can change direction twice. The answer was no. What if you had an object attached to a string spinning at constant velocity. Is the tangential acceleration constant?
Although the "tangential acceleration" is constant (and equal to zero), the "acceleration" in the case of uniform circular motion is not constant.
 
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Related to Constant acceleration changes direction twice

1. How can an object have constant acceleration if it changes direction twice?

An object can have constant acceleration if the magnitude and direction of its acceleration remains constant. This means that while the object may change its direction of motion, the rate at which its velocity changes remains the same.

2. What causes an object to change direction twice while maintaining constant acceleration?

An object can change direction twice while maintaining constant acceleration if it is undergoing circular motion. In this case, the object is constantly changing direction due to the changing direction of the centripetal force acting on it.

3. How is constant acceleration with two direction changes represented mathematically?

Constant acceleration with two direction changes can be represented mathematically using vector notation. The initial velocity, final velocity, and acceleration of the object can be represented by vectors, and the equation Vf = V0 + aΔt can be used to calculate the object's displacement.

4. Can an object have constant acceleration with more than two direction changes?

Yes, an object can have constant acceleration with more than two direction changes. This is known as accelerated motion, where the acceleration of the object remains constant even as it changes direction multiple times.

5. Are there any real-life examples of constant acceleration with two direction changes?

Yes, a common example of constant acceleration with two direction changes is a roller coaster. As the roller coaster goes over a loop, it changes direction twice while maintaining a constant acceleration downwards due to the force of gravity.

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