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title: "A race car travels around two different circular segments of a track, Segment 1 and Segment 2, at the same constant speed \\(v\\). The radius of curvature for Segment 1 is \\(R\\), and the radius of curvature for Segment 2 is \\(4R\\). If \\(a_1\\) is the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration of the car in Segment 1 and \\(a_2\\) is the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration of the car in Segment 2, what is the ratio \\(a_1/a_2\\)?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/114445/"
date_modified: "2026-07-03T04:36:36+00:00"
---

# A race car travels around two different circular segments of a track, Segment 1 and Segment 2, at the same constant speed \(v\). The radius of curvature for Segment 1 is \(R\), and the radius of curvature for Segment 2 is \(4R\). If \(a_1\) is the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration of the car in Segment 1 and \(a_2\) is the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration of the car in Segment 2, what is the ratio \(a_1/a_2\)?

A race car travels around two different circular segments of a track, Segment 1 and Segment 2, at the same constant speed \(v\). The radius of curvature for Segment 1 is \(R\), and the radius of curvature for Segment 2 is \(4R\). If \(a_1\) is the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration of the car in Segment 1 and \(a_2\) is the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration of the car in Segment 2, what is the ratio \(a_1/a_2\)?

- **A.** \(1/16\)
- **B.** \(1/4\)
- **C.** \(4\)
- **D.** \(16\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/114445/*