College Physics (4th Edition)

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0073512141
ISBN 13: 978-0-07351-214-3

Chapter 5 - Conceptual Questions - Page 183: 7

Answer

The tangential acceleration component is constant. The radial acceleration component is not constant.

Work Step by Step

Let $\alpha$ be the angular acceleration. $a_t = \alpha ~r~~$ is the tangential acceleration. Since $\alpha$ is constant, then $a_t$ is also constant. The tangential acceleration component is constant. $a_c = \omega^2~r~~$ is the radial acceleration. Because there is an angular acceleration, the value of $\omega$ will change. Therefore, the radial acceleration component is not constant.
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