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Normal acceleration (n) and tangential acceleration annotated (t) while model is in use
Model in use
Description
To demonstrate tangential and normal acceleration, a 4 foot rope is attached to a tennis ball to be spun around in a circular motion. The model consists of a tennis ball and rope. When swung in a circular motion, the rope creates a tension force on the ball. As a result, the ball has a normal and tangential acceleration. If the user recorded the ball being spun in slow motion, then they could visualize the acceleration components. The purpose of this model is to allow the user to interact with and to visualize acceleration.
Definitions/Engineering Topic Covered
All vectors have magnitude and direction thus acceleration has two components that define its magnitude and direction labeled in Figure A.18. The tangential acceleration (a_t) is a measure of the rate of change in the magnitude of the velocity vector and it is how much of the acceleration acts in the direction of motion. The normal acceleration (a_n) is a measure of the rate of change of the direction of the velocity vector and it is how much of the acceleration is orthogonal to the tangential acceleration.
Learning Objective
Students will be able to visualize normal and tangential acceleration
Students will be able to differentiate between normal and tangential acceleration
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