Centripetal acceleration is the rate of change of tangential velocity. The net force causing the centripetal acceleration of an object in circular motion is defined as centripetal force.
Expression : Consider a particle of mass m, moving with a constant speed v and uniform angular velocity on a circular path of radius r with centre at O.
From the diagram given above, we can say that,
\(\vec {PQ} + \vec {QS} = \vec {PS}\)
\(-v_1 + v_2 = \triangle v\)
\(\triangle v = v_2 - v_1\)
The triangle PQS and AOB are similar. Therefore,
Example of centripetal acceleration is a stone moved around tied to the string.
