A car going around a curve of radius R at a speed V experiences a centripetal acceleration a_c.What is its acceleration if it goes around a curve of radius 3R at a speed of 2V? A)(2/3)a_c B)(4/3)a_c C)(2/9)a_c D)(9/2)a_c E)(3/2)a_c

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The formula for centripetal acceleration is $a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}$. If the speed doubles ($2V$) and the radius triples ($3R$), the new acceleration is $a_c' = \frac{(2V)^2}{3R} = \frac{4V^2}{3R} = \frac{4}{3} \cdot \frac{V^2}{R} = \frac{4}{3}a_c$, where $a_c$ is the original acceleration.

A Car Going Around a Curve of Radius R at a Speed