Is it possible for a car to move in a circular path in such a way that it has a tangential acceleration but no centripetal acceleration?
Yes, this is called superelevation.
The roads at the bends are built in such a way that the outside of the bend is higher than the inside. Gravity forces (μmgsinθ) will push against the centripetal acceleration and in the best of all cases, they balance out.
The centripetal acceleration is always present, but it is just balanced to avoid skidding outwards, especially in icy weather.
Read more about it here:
http://techalive.mtu.edu/modules/module0003/Superelevation.htm
No. hhhhmmmmm.
Yes, in the special case when tangential velocity is zero for an instant.
No, it is not possible for a car to move in a circular path with tangential acceleration but no centripetal acceleration. In circular motion, the centripetal acceleration is responsible for continuously changing the direction of motion towards the center of the circle. This acceleration is always present in any object moving in a circular path. The tangential acceleration, on the other hand, is responsible for changing the magnitude or speed of the object's velocity.
No, it is not possible for a car to move in a circular path with tangential acceleration but no centripetal acceleration.
To understand this, let's first clarify the terms:
- Tangential acceleration refers to the change in the magnitude or direction of an object's velocity. It occurs parallel to the object's path.
- Centripetal acceleration refers to the acceleration that keeps an object moving in a circular path. It is always directed toward the center of the circle.
In a circular motion, tangential acceleration and centripetal acceleration are related. They are perpendicular to each other and together result in a change in the velocity of the object.
When a car moves in a circular path, it experiences centripetal acceleration because it needs a force directed towards the center of the circle to keep it on that path. This force can be provided by friction between the tires and the road.
Since the car is accelerating tangentially, its velocity is changing and therefore it must experience a centripetal acceleration to maintain the circular path. If the car were to have tangential acceleration but no centripetal acceleration, it would move off the circular path and continue in a straight line instead.
Thus, in order for a car to have tangential acceleration, it must also have centripetal acceleration.