Tangential Acceleration

Definition

Tangential acceleration refers to the rate at which an object's tangential velocity changes. It measures how quickly an object is speeding up or slowing down along its circular path.

Analogy

Imagine you are riding a merry-go-round and suddenly the speed of the ride increases. The feeling of being pushed towards the outer edge is similar to tangential acceleration, as it represents the change in your linear speed.

Related terms

Centripetal Acceleration: This term refers to the acceleration that keeps an object moving in a circular path, always directed towards the center of that path.

Rotational Kinematics Equations: These equations describe the relationship between angular displacement, angular velocity, and angular acceleration for objects rotating about a fixed axis.

Centripetal Force: This force acts towards the center of a circular path and is responsible for keeping an object moving in that path.