**Centripetal Acceleration:**

Centripetal acceleration is the acceleration experienced by an object moving in a circular path. It is always directed towards the center of the circle and is responsible for changing the direction of the object's velocity. Centripetal acceleration is a result of the centripetal force acting on the object.

**Formula:**

The formula for calculating centripetal acceleration is:

ac = v^2 / r

where ac is the centripetal acceleration, v is the velocity of the object, and r is the radius of the circular path.

**Example:**

Let's consider an example of a car moving in a circular track with a radius of 100 meters. The car has a constant speed of 20 meters per second.

1. Determine the centripetal acceleration:

To calculate the centripetal acceleration, we need to find the velocity of the car. The velocity is given as 20 meters per second.

ac = v^2 / r
= (20)^2 / 100
= 400 / 100
= 4 meters per second squared

Therefore, the centripetal acceleration of the car is 4 meters per second squared.

2. Interpretation:

The centripetal acceleration of 4 meters per second squared means that the car is accelerating towards the center of the circular track at a rate of 4 meters per second squared. It implies that the car's velocity is constantly changing, not in terms of speed but in terms of direction. The acceleration is directed towards the center of the circle, allowing the car to maintain its circular path.

It is important to note that centripetal acceleration is not a force itself but rather the result of a force acting towards the center. In this example, the centripetal force is provided by the friction between the tires and the road surface, which allows the car to maintain its circular motion.

In conclusion, centripetal acceleration is the acceleration experienced by an object moving in a circular path. It is always directed towards the center of the circle and is responsible for changing the direction of the object's velocity. The formula for calculating centripetal acceleration is ac = v^2 / r, where ac is the centripetal acceleration, v is the velocity of the object, and r is the radius of the circular path.