Normal and Tangential Components of Acceleration

• In mathematics, given a vector at a point on a curve, that

vector can be decomposed uniquely as a sum of two vectors,
one tangent to the curve, called the tangential component of
the vector, and another one perpendicular to the curve, called
the normal component of the vector.
(reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangential_and_normal_components)
Normal and Tangential Components of Acceleration
• In many problems the most useful components of acceleration
are those which are tangent and normal to the path. These
components respectively the rate of change of magnitude and of
direction of velocity.
Reference: Singer, F.L. (1954). Engineering Mechanics (2nd Ed.). New York, Evanston & London: HARPER & ROW
Formulas:
an =

at =

Where;
an = normal component of acceleration
at = tangential component of acceleration
v = velocity
r = radius of path
= derivative of velocity with respect to time
Point A in the Figure moves in a circular path of 20 ft radius so that its
arc distance from an initial position B is given by the relation x = 6t3 -
4t, where x is in feet and t is in seconds. Determine the tangential and
normal components of acceleration of the point for the instant when t
= 2 sec. Find also the resultant acceleration in magnitude and
inclination.
Y
O
A x (distance travelled, A-B)

at an θ
B X
20’

Given: x = 6t3 -4t Req’d: an & at when t=2sec

r = 20 ft a & inclination
t = 2 sec
 Y

A
Solution: x (distance
travelled, A-B)
at an θ
*( We have to get the derivative in order to get the formula for B X
O
velocity then get its derivative again in order to get at) 20’

[v = x = 6t3 -4t
v = 18t2 – 4

[at = v = 18t2 – 4
at = 36t
*( Since we already solved how to get the tangential component of acceleration we can already
solve for at by using the time that was given)

at = 36t
at = 36(2)
at = 72
 Y

A
Solution: x (distance
travelled, A-B)
at an θ
*( the formula in solving for an is an = , but we do not know the velocity B X
O
of the particle at 2 sec but we can solve it because we were able to get 20’
the formula of velocity)

v = 18t2 – 4
v = 18( ) – 4
v = 68
*(Now we can already solve for an because we already know the velocity and the radius of the path)

an =
an =
an = 231.2
 Y

*( in order to get the resultant just like any other component in order to A x (distance
get the resultant we need to see/treat it as a triangle) travelled, A-B)
at an θ
B X
at an O
at 20’
a (resultant)

a= 𝑛 𝑡

a=
a = 242.15

*( the formula for getting )

*( We can get the inclination when get θ and ϕ)

x (distance
A travelled, A-B)
at α an
at θ
ϕ B
a (resultant)

*( We can solve θ by the arc length formula, x = 𝑟θ ,then we can solve θ = )

*( x by the given formula x = 6t3 -4t )

x = 6t3 -4t
x = 6(23) - 4(2)
x = 40 ft
 θ=
θ= = 2 rad = 114.59°

x (distance
A travelled, A-B)
at α an
at θ
ϕ B
a (resultant)

*( We can solve α by triangle formed by the components of acceleration and the resultant
giving us tan α = )

α = tan( )= tan ( )= 17.3°

.
*( By analysing the angles we can now solve the angle of inclination)

ϕ = 180 – α – (180 – θ)
ϕ = 180 – 17.3 – (180 – 114.59)
ϕ = 97.29°