1.

A particle is moving around in a circle and its position is given in polar

coordinates as x = Rcosθ, and y = Rsinθ, where R is the radius of the circle,
and θ is in radians. From these equations derive the equation for centripetal
acceleration.

Solution: Without loss of generality, we only need to look at the equation for the x-
position, since we know that centripetal acceleration points towards the center of the
circle. Thus, when θ = 0, the second derivative of x with respect to time must be the
centripetal acceleration.

The first derivative of x with respect to time t is:

dx/dt = -Rsinθ(dθ/dt)

The second derivative of x with respect to time t is:

d2x/dt2 = -Rcosθ(dθ/dt)2−Rsinθ(d2θ/dt2)

In both of the above equations the chain rule of Calculus is used and by assumption θ is
a function of time. Therefore, θ can be differentiated with respect to time.

Now, evaluate the second derivative at θ = 0.

We have,

d2x/dt2 = -R(dθ/dt)2

The term dθ/dt is usually called the angular velocity, which is the rate of change of the
angle θ. It has units of radians/second.

For convenience we can set w ≡ dθ/dt.

Therefore,

d2x/dt2 = -Rw2

This is the well-known form for the centripetal acceleration equation.

2. How come in free fall you feel weightless even though gravity is pulling down
on you? (ignore air resistance when answering this question).

Solution: The reason you feel weightless is because there is no force pushing against
you, since you are not in contact with anything. Gravity is pulling equally on all the
particles in your body. This creates a sensation where no forces are acting on you
and you feel weightless. It would be the same sensation as if you were floating in
space.