Republic of the Philippines

NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: Eng Mech 2-2S-2020-2021

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Bayombong Campus

DEGREE BSABE COURSE NO. Eng Mech 2

PROGRAM
SPECIALIZATION COURSE TITLE Engineering Mechanics II
YEAR LEVEL 2 TIME FRAME 6 WK NO. 6 IM NO. 4

I. UNIT TITLE/CHAPTER TITLE

Tangential and Normal Components of Acceleration

II. LESSON TITLE

Tangential and Normal Components of Acceleration

III. LESSON OVERVIEW

IV. DESIRED LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will be able to: Determine the normal and tangential components of velocity
and acceleration of a particle traveling along a curved path.

V. LESSON CONTENT

Curvilinear Motion: Tangential and Normal Components of Acceleration

When the path along which a particle travels is known, then it is often convenient to describe the
motion using n and t coordinate axes which act normal and tangent to the path, respectively, and at the
instant considered have their origin located at the particle.

In the n-t coordinate system, the

origin is located on the particle
(the origin moves with the
particle).

The t-axis is tangent to the path (curve) at the instant considered, positive in the direction of the
particle’s motion. The n-axis is perpendicular to the t-axis with the positive direction toward the center
of curvature of the curve.

The positive n and t directions are

defined by the unit vectors un and ut,
respectively.

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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: Eng Mech 2-2S-2020-2021

The center of curvature, O’, always

lies on the concave side of the curve.
The radius of curvature, r, is defined
as the perpendicular distance from
the curve to the center of curvature at
that point.

The position of the particle at any instant is defined by the distance, s, along the curve from a fixed
reference point.

VELOCITY IN THE n-t COORDINATE SYSTEM

The velocity vector is always

tangent to the path of motion
(t-direction).

The magnitude is determined by taking the time derivative of the path function, s(t).

v = vut , where v = s = ds/dt

Here v defines the magnitude of the velocity (speed) and ut defines the direction of the velocity
vector.

ACCELERATION IN THE n-t COORDINATE SYSTEM

Acceleration is the time rate of change of velocity:

a = dv/dt = d(vut)/dt = vut + vut

Here v represents the change in

the magnitude of velocity and ut
represents the rate of change in
the direction of ut.

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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: Eng Mech 2-2S-2020-2021

After mathematical manipulation,

the acceleration vector can be
expressed as:

a = vut + (v2/r)un = atut + anun

There are two components to the acceleration vector:

a = at ut + an un

Note:
1. The tangential component is tangent to the curve and in the direction of
increasing or decreasing velocity.

at = v or at ds = v dv

2. The normal or centripetal component is always directed toward the center of

curvature of the curve.

an = v2/ρ

3. The magnitude of the acceleration vector is

a = [(at) + (an) ]
2 2 0.5

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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: Eng Mech 2-2S-2020-2021

SPECIAL CASES OF MOTION

1. The particle moves along a straight line.

 an = v2/a
= at = v
The tangential component represents the time rate of change in the magnitude of
the velocity.

2. The particle moves along a curve at constant speed.

at = v = 0 a = an = v2/
The normal component represents the time rate of change in the direction of the
velocity.

3. The tangential component of acceleration is constant, at = (at)c.

In this case,
s = so + vot + (1/2)(at)ct2
v = vo + (at)ct
v = (vo) + 2(at)c(s – so)
2 2

4. The particle moves along a path expressed as y = f(x). The radius of curvature, r,
at any point on the path can be calculated from

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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: Eng Mech 2-2S-2020-2021

Example 1. A jet plane travels along a vertical parabolic path defined by the equation y = 0.4x 2. At
point A, the jet has a speed of 200 m/s, which is increasing at the rate of 0.8 m/s 2. The magnitude of
the plane’s acceleration when it is at point A.

Hint:
1. The change in the speed of the plane (0.8 m/s2) is the tangential component of the total
acceleration.
2. Calculate the radius of curvature of the path at A.
3. Calculate the normal component of acceleration.
4. Determine the magnitude of the acceleration vector.

SOLUTION:

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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: Eng Mech 2-2S-2020-2021

Example 2. Starting from rest, a motorboat travels around a circular path of r = 50 m at a speed that
increases with time, v = (0.2 t2) m/s. The magnitudes of the boat’s velocity and acceleration at the
instant t = 3 s.

SOLUTION:

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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: Eng Mech 2-2S-2020-2021

EXAMPLE 3.

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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: Eng Mech 2-2S-2020-2021

VI. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

PROBLEM SET # 5. Tangential and Normal Components of Acceleration

1. The boat is traveling along the circular path with speed of v = (0.0625t2) m/s, where t is in seconds.
Determine
the magnitude of its acceleration when t = 10 s.

2. The car travels up the hill with a speed of v = (0.2s) m/s, where s is in meters, measured from A.
Determine the magnitude of its acceleration when it is at point s = 50 m, where p = 500 m .

3. Starting from rest, the motorboat travels around the circular path, p = 50 m, at a speed v = (0.2t2) m/s,
where t is in seconds. Determine the magnitudes of the boat's velocity and acceleration at the instant t
= 3 s.

4. The train passes point A with a speed of 30 m/s and begins to decrease its speed at a constant rate of at
= - 0.25 m/s2. Determine the magnitude of the acceleration of the train when it reaches point B, where
SAB = 412 m.

5. If the roller coaster starts from rest at A and its speed increases at at = (6 - 0.06s) m/s2, determine the
magnitude of its acceleration when it reaches B where Sb= 40 m.

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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: Eng Mech 2-2S-2020-2021

VII. EVALUATION

VIII. ASSIGNMENT

IX. REFERENCES

1. https://mathalino.com/tag/reviewer/dynamic-equilibrium
2. Hibbeler. Engineering Mechanics- Dynamics. 12th edition
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwHy4Dewc7g
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx-YpRfyYek

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