Dynamics MCB 2043

Curvilinear Motion of Particles:

Normal and Tangential Component

Guided Learning Activity May 2016 Semester

Lesson Outcomes

At the end of this lecture you should be able to:

Determine the normal and tangential components of
velocity and acceleration of a particle traveling along
a curved path.

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 Example #1
Given: A boat travels around a
circular path, = 40 m, at a
speed that increases with
time, v = (0.0625 t2) m/s.
Find: The magnitudes of the boats
velocity and acceleration at
the instant t = 10 s.

Plan:
The boat starts from rest (v = 0 when t = 0).
1) Calculate the velocity at t = 10 s using v(t).
2) Calculate the tangential and normal components of
acceleration and then the magnitude of the
acceleration vector.

Example #1 (continued)
Solution:
1) The velocity vector is v = v ut , where the magnitude is
given by v = (0.0625t2) m/s. At t = 10s:
v = 0.0625 t2 = 0.0625 (10)2 = 6.25 m/s
.
2) The acceleration vector is a = atut + anun = vut + (v2/)un.
.
Tangential component: at = v = d(.0625 t2 )/dt = 0.125 t m/s2
At t = 10s: at = 0.125t = 0.125(10) = 1.25 m/s2

Normal component: an = v2/ m/s2

At t = 10s: an = (6.25)2 / (40 = 0.9766 m/s2

The magnitude of the acceleration is

a = [(at)2 + (an)2]0.5 = [(1.25)2 + (0.9766)2]0.5 = 1.59 m/s2

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 Example #2
Given: A roller coaster travels along a
vertical parabolic path defined by
the equation y = 0.01x2. At point B,
it has a speed of 25 m/s, which is
increasing at the rate of 3 m/s2.
Find: The magnitude of the roller coasters
acceleration when it is at point B.

Plan: 1. The change in the speed of the car (3 m/s2) is the

tangential component of the total acceleration.
2. Calculate the radius of curvature of the path at B.
3. Calculate the normal component of acceleration.
4. Determine the magnitude of the acceleration vector.

Example #2 (continued)
Solution:
1) The tangential component of acceleration is the . rate of
increase of the roller coasters speed, so at = v = 3 m/s2.
2) Determine the radius of curvature at point B (x = 30 m):
dy/dx = d(0.01x2)/dx = 0.02x, d2y/dx2 = d (0.02x)/dx = 0.02
At x =30 m, dy/dx = 0.02(30) = 0.6, d2y/dx2 = 0.02
[1+(dy/dx)2]3/2
=> = = [1 + (0.6)2]3/2/(0.02 = 79.3 m
d2y/dx2

3) The normal component of acceleration is

an = v2/ = (25)2/(79.3 = 7.881 m/s2
4) The magnitude of the acceleration vector is
a = [(at)2 + (an)2]0.5 = [(3)2 + (7.881)2]0.5 = 8.43 m/s2

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 Example #3
Car at rest at s = 0. Accelerates at at = 0.02 t 2 m/s 2.
Calculate magnitudes of its velocity and acceleration at
s = 180 m.

dv
Given : at 0.02 t 2
dt
v t
Integrate for v : dv 0.02 t 2 dt
0 0

ds 0.02 t 3
v
dt 3
0.02 t 3
s
Integrate for s : ds
t dt
0 3 0
s 0.00167 t 4

Example #3 (continued)

At s 180 m (vehicle on the curve);

180
t4 18.1 s
0.00167
0.02(18.1) 3
v 39.7 m/s
3
at 0.02(18.1) 2 6.57 m/s 2
v2 39.7 2
an 19.7 m/s 2
80
a a 2t a 2n 6.57 2 19.7 2 20.8 m/s 2

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 Example #4
At point A, the skier has a speed of 6 m/s which is increasing at 2 m/s2. At
this point, determine:
a) the direction of his velocity
b) the direction and magnitude of this acceleration.
Neglect the size of the skier in the calculation.

parabolic path

Example #4 (continued)
Establish the origin of the n, t axes at the fixed point A on
the path and determine the components of v and a along
these axes. The velocity is directed tangent to the path.

1 2 dy x
y x
20 dx 10
Point A is at [10,5], so slope
dy 10
1
dx x 10 10

q tan 1 1 45 from x axis.

v A 6 m/s 45

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 Example #4 (continued)

v2 6 2

a vu t u n 2 u t u n

3/2
dy 2 1 2
1 y x
dx 20
dy

x
d2y dx 10
dx 2 d2y 1

dx 2 10
3/ 2
10 2 62
1 a 2u t u n
10
28 .28 m 28 .28
1
10 a A 2u t 1 .27 u n m/s 2

Example #4 (continued)

a A 2u t 1 .27 u n m/s 2

a 2 1 .27
2 2
2 .37 m/s 2
2
tan 1 57 .5
1 .27
= 57.5 45 = 12.5
a = 2.37 m/s2 12.5 from x axis

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 Example #5
Car B at rest at q = 0o. Accelerates by 0.5e t m/s2. Calculate
magnitudes of its velocity and acceleration at t = 2 s. What
angle q has it travelled?

dv
Given : at 0.5 e t
dt
v t
Integrate for v : dv 0.5 e t dt
0 0

ds
v 0.5 e t e 0 0.5 e t 1
dt
s t
Integrate for s : 0

ds 0.5 e t 1 dt
0

s 0.5 e t 1 t

Example #5 (continued) Car B at rest at = 0o. Accelerates by

0.5e t m/s2. Calculate magnitudes of its
velocity and acceleration at t=2 s.
What angle has it travelled?

At t 2 s ; v 0.5 e 2 1 3.20 m/s a t 0.5 e t

v 0 .5 e t 1
at v 0.5 e 2 3.70 m/s 2
s 0.5 e t
t 1
v2 3.20 2
an 2.04 m/s 2
5

a a 2t a 2n 3.70 2 2.04 2 4.22 m/s 2

s 0.5 e 2 2 1 2.20 m rq

2.20
q 0.439 rad 25.2
5

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 Summary Questions
1. If a particle moves along a curve with a constant speed, then
its tangential component of acceleration is
A) positive. B) negative.
C) zero. D) constant.

2. The normal component of acceleration represents

A) the time rate of change in the magnitude of the velocity.
B) the time rate of change in the direction of the velocity.
C) magnitude of the velocity.
D) direction of the total acceleration.

Summary Questions (continued)

3. A particle traveling in a circular path of radius 300 m has an
instantaneous velocity of 30 m/s and its velocity is
increasing at a constant rate of 4 m/s2. What is the
magnitude of its total acceleration at this instant?
A) 3 m/s2 B) 4 m/s2
C) 5 m/s2 D) -5 m/s2
4. If a particle moving in a circular path of radius 5 m has a
velocity function v = 4t2 m/s, what is the magnitude of its
total acceleration at t = 1 s?
A) 8 m/s B) 8.6 m/s
C) 3.2 m/s D) 11.2 m/s

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 Summary Questions (continued)
5. The magnitude of the normal acceleration is
A) proportional to radius of curvature.
B) inversely proportional to radius of curvature.
C) sometimes negative.
D) zero when velocity is constant.

6. The directions of the tangential acceleration and velocity are

always
A) perpendicular to each other. B) collinear.
C) in the same direction. D) in opposite directions.

References:

R.C. Hibbeler, Engineering Mechanics: Dynamics,

SI 13th Edition, Prentice-Hall, 2012.

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