Final answer:
The centripetal acceleration of the waterwheel is approximately 3.08 m/s^2.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the centripetal acceleration of the waterwheel, we can use the formula:
centripetal acceleration = tangential velocity^2 / radius
Given that the radius of the waterwheel is 20.0 m and the tangential velocity is 7.85 m/s, we can substitute these values into the formula:
centripetal acceleration = (7.85 m/s)^2 / 20.0 m
Simplifying this equation gives us:
centripetal acceleration ≈ 3.08 m/s^2
Therefore, the centripetal acceleration of the waterwheel is approximately 3.08 m/s^2.