Tangential force
Tangential force is defined as the force acting on a moving body in the direction of the tangent to the curved path of the body. If the velocity of the object is positive, the acceleration will be negative. Σ F = ma shows that an unbalanced force must be acting to cause the deceleration. This is called a tangential force.
- It is a result of tangential acceleration which is perpendicular to the radius coming from the axis of rotation. The tangential force exists only when there is a change in tangential velocity.
- The difference between tangential force and normal force is that, in tangential force the magnitude of the velocity changes while in normal force direction of velocity changes at every point.
