alleryStart learning →How is angular acceleration defined?
AThe rate of change of angular velocity
BThe rate of change of the radius of curvature
CThe total angle swept in one full revolution
DThe rate of change of tangential force
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. The rate of change of angular velocity
1. A skater pulling in her arms or a merry-go-round speeding up both show a changing angular velocity.
2. Angular acceleration alpha measures exactly how fast that angular velocity is changing.
3. alpha = delta omega / delta t, matching the linear definition of acceleration one level up.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 6 "Circular and Rotational Motion", section 6.3 Rotational Motion_
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