Answer to Question #256772 in Physics for grey tyrant

Question

2. A taxi driver goes around a rotunda, unsure of his exit. He slows down and speeds up as he approaches the exits of the rotunda, seeing if it’s the exit he’s looking for. While he is slowing

down, what is the direction of his:

a. Centripetal Acceleration

b. Tangential Acceleration

c. Velocity

Explain why the directions of those values are point in their directions.

Answer 1

While he is slowing down, the direction of his centripetal acceleration remains the same, because the driver moves in a circle. What changes is the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration, and magnitude and direction of tangential acceleration and velocity.

Centripetal acceleration defines the change of velocity along the circle, so it always points toward the center. Tangential acceleration defines the change in velocity, so it changes both direction and magnitude. Velocity is the vector that defines how fast the taxi moves along the circle, so it changes both magnitude and direction.