A train slows down as it rounds a sharp horizontal turn, slowing from 87.4 km/h to 44.6 km/h in the 16.1 s that it takes to round the bend. The radius of the curve is 180 m. Compute the acceleration at the moment the train speed reaches 44.6 km/h. Assume that it continues to slow down at this time at the same rate. what or how do i find the magnitude and dierction?

2 answers

magnitude acceleration=(87.4-44.6)/16.1 is the tangential acceleration, in the direction it is going.
Now there is another acceleartion, directed at the center of the circle, centripetal acceleration, 44.1^2/180

These two accelerations are at 90 degrees to each other.
Magnitude= sqrt(tangential magnitude^2+centripetal^2)

direction, theta=arctan centriptal/tangential where theta is the angle measured from the tangent towards the radius.
Where to get 44.1 for Velocity as in the Centripetal Acceleration?