A new car is tested on a 200 [m] diameter track. If the car speeds up at a steady 1.5 [m/s²], how long after starting is the magnitude of its centripetal acceleration equal to the tangential acceleration?

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**Physics Problem: Centripetal and Tangential Acceleration**

**Question:**
A new car is tested on a 200-meter diameter track. If the car speeds up at a steady 1.5 meters per second squared, how long after starting is the magnitude of its centripetal acceleration equal to the tangential acceleration?

**Solution Approach:**

1. **Concepts to Understand:**
   - **Tangential acceleration (at):** This is the rate at which the speed of the car increases and is given as 1.5 m/s².
   - **Centripetal acceleration (ac):** This occurs when the car moves in a circular path and is directed towards the center of the circle. It can be calculated using the formula: 
     \[ ac = \frac{v^2}{r} \]
     where \( v \) is the velocity and \( r \) is the radius of the circle.

2. **Given:**
   - Diameter of the track = 200 m → Radius \( r = \frac{200}{2} = 100 \) m.
   - Tangential acceleration \( at = 1.5 \, \text{m/s}^2 \).

3. **Find the time \( t \) when:**
   - \( ac = at \)

4. **Equating Centripetal and Tangential Accelerations:**
   \[ \frac{v^2}{r} = at \]

5. **Substituting known values:**
   \[ \frac{v^2}{100} = 1.5 \]

6. **Solving for \( v \):**
   \[ v^2 = 1.5 \times 100 \]
   \[ v^2 = 150 \]
   \[ v = \sqrt{150} \]

7. **Using the equation for velocity given constant acceleration:**
   \[ v = at \]
   \[ \sqrt{150} = 1.5 \times t \]
   \[ t = \frac{\sqrt{150}}{1.5} \]

8. **Calculate \( t \).**

This approach gives a comprehensive method to determine the required time. Make use of a calculator to find the exact numerical solution.
Transcribed Image Text:**Physics Problem: Centripetal and Tangential Acceleration** **Question:** A new car is tested on a 200-meter diameter track. If the car speeds up at a steady 1.5 meters per second squared, how long after starting is the magnitude of its centripetal acceleration equal to the tangential acceleration? **Solution Approach:** 1. **Concepts to Understand:** - **Tangential acceleration (at):** This is the rate at which the speed of the car increases and is given as 1.5 m/s². - **Centripetal acceleration (ac):** This occurs when the car moves in a circular path and is directed towards the center of the circle. It can be calculated using the formula: \[ ac = \frac{v^2}{r} \] where \( v \) is the velocity and \( r \) is the radius of the circle. 2. **Given:** - Diameter of the track = 200 m → Radius \( r = \frac{200}{2} = 100 \) m. - Tangential acceleration \( at = 1.5 \, \text{m/s}^2 \). 3. **Find the time \( t \) when:** - \( ac = at \) 4. **Equating Centripetal and Tangential Accelerations:** \[ \frac{v^2}{r} = at \] 5. **Substituting known values:** \[ \frac{v^2}{100} = 1.5 \] 6. **Solving for \( v \):** \[ v^2 = 1.5 \times 100 \] \[ v^2 = 150 \] \[ v = \sqrt{150} \] 7. **Using the equation for velocity given constant acceleration:** \[ v = at \] \[ \sqrt{150} = 1.5 \times t \] \[ t = \frac{\sqrt{150}}{1.5} \] 8. **Calculate \( t \).** This approach gives a comprehensive method to determine the required time. Make use of a calculator to find the exact numerical solution.
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