Question

during the spin cycle of a washing machine the cloth stick to the outer wall of the barrel as it spins at a speed of 65 m per second. the radius of the barrel is 0.35 m. what is the magnitude and direction of centripetal acceleration of the clothes which are located on the wall of the barrel​

Answer 1

Hi there!

Centripetal acceleration can be written as:

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

v = tangential velocity (m/s)

r = radius (m)

Plug in the given values:

`a_c = (65^2)/(0.35) = \boxed{12071.43 \text{ m}/s^2}}}`

The centripetal acceleration vector ALWAYS points towards the CENTER POINT of the barrel.