Question

What can you say about the tangential and normal components of acceleration if the direction of velocity of a body is changing?

Answer 1

Tangential Acceleration: Tangential acceleration, a(t) = dv/dt. Its function is to increase the linear/tangential velocity and subsequently increase the angular velocity. Suppose you switch on a fan. In its initial motion, it speeds up from v = 0 to a certain value. This increase in speed, as well as angular speed, is due to tangential accelerational.


Normal Acceleration: Also known as radial acceleration or centripetal acceleration, normal acceleration a(n) = v^2/r, where v is the tangential velocity. It is responsible to change the direction of velocity and thus keeping particle in circular motion.