Why does centripetal acceleration occur?

Answer 1

Centripetal means towards the center. Any object moving around in a circle is accelerating towards the center. Remember that acceleration involves a change in velocity, and a specification of "velocity" includes the direction; therefore, since the direction of the movement changes continuously, the object is "accelerating", according to the definition of acceleration.

Answer 2

The velocity of an object moving at a constant speed but in a circular motion due to a centripetal force is constantly changing direction (because velocity is a vector with magnitude and direction), and so since the motion of an object moving in a circle is at a tangent to the circle, this object is defined as constantly accelerating towards the centre of the circle.

NB: this is at a constant speed (scalar) and with a constant radius of circle of motion

Answer 3

The equation for centripetal acceleration is a = v2/r, where a is acceleration, v is velocity in m/s, and r is the radius of the circle in meters. So the dimension of the acceleration a = (m/s)2/m = m2/s2/m, which gives m/s/s or m/s2. The direction of the acceleration is toward the center of the circle.

Answer 4

the acceleration directed toward the center of a circular path

Answer 5

Centripetal acceleration is caused by a centripetal force.

Answer 6

That means acceleration towards the center, for example, when something moves in a circle at constant speed.

Answer 7

toward a central point

Answer 8

centripetal force.

Answer 9

acceleration in circular motion