Question

A runner moving at a speed of 5.6 m/s rounds a circular track with a radius of 65 m. What is the runner’s centripetal acceleration.

Answer 1

The centripetal acceleration of a particle moving at constant speed v over a circular trajectory with radius r is:

`a_c=(v^2)/(r)`

Replace v=5.6 m/s and r=65 m to find the centripetal acceleration:

`\begin{gathered} a_c=((5.6(m)/(s))^2)/((65m)) \\ =(31.36(m^2)/(s^2))/(65m) \\ =0.48246\ldots(m)/(s^2) \\ \approx0.48(m)/(s^2) \end{gathered}`

Therefore, the runner's centripetal acceleration is 0.48 m/s^2