Question

What is centripetal acceleration? Give its formula.

Answer 1

1. When a body moves on a circular path, its direction continuously changes. So, the velocity of the body also changes even if its speed is constant.
2. The body has an acceleration because velocity of the body is changing.
3. So, centripetal acceleration is the acceleration of a body when it moves on a circular path.
4. If a body is moving on a circular path of radius $r$ and with a constant speed of $v$, then the centripetal acceleration $a_c$ will be $a_c=\frac{v^2}{r}$.