Chapter 5 - Centripetal motion, acceleration and force

Question 1

What is the centripetal acceleration?

Answer 1

Centripetal acceleration is the rate of change in velocity of an object that is associated with the change in direction of the velocity

Question 2

What direction does centripetal acceleration act?

Answer 2

• Centripetal acceleration always acts perpendicular to the velocity
• So it always points towards the center of the curve

Question 3

What direction does centripetal acceleration act?

Answer 3

• Centripetal acceleration always acts perpendicular to the velocity
• So it always points towards the centre of the curve

Question 4

What is centripetal force?

Answer 4

The centripetal force is the total force that produces a centripetal acceleration

Question 5

What is the static force of friction?

Answer 5

The Static force of friction is the frictional force acting when there is no motion along the surfaces e.g. no skidding or sliding

Question 6

What is a geocentric view?

Answer 6

Any theory of the structure of the solar system (or the universe) in which Earth is assumed to be at the centre of it all