Centripetal Acceleration
Centripetal acceleration is the acceleration experienced by an object moving in a circular path. It is directed towards the center of the circle and its magnitude is given by the square of the velocity of the object divided by the radius of the circle. In space and astronautical engineering, centripetal acceleration is an important concept in the design and operation of spacecraft and satellites. For example, the centripetal acceleration of a satellite in orbit around the Earth is balanced by the gravitational force of the Earth, which keeps the satellite in a stable orbit. In addition, centripetal acceleration is used in the design of centrifuges, which are used to simulate the effects of gravity on astronauts during spaceflight.
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