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Centripetal acceleration


Centripetal acceleration is the rate of change of velocity of an object moving in a circular path at any instant, directed towards the center of the circle. Centripetal acceleration depends on the linear velocity of motion and the curvature radius of the trajectory as follows:

$$a = \frac{{v^2}}{R}$$


where,

a— centripetal acceleration (m/s²);
v— velocity (m/s);
R— radius (m).


Centripetal acceleration expressed through angular velocity:

$${a} = {\omega}^2 \cdot r$$


where,

a— centripetal acceleration (m/s²);
\(\omega\)— angular velocity (rad/s);
r— radius (m).