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 constantly changing the direction of the object's velocity without altering its speed. The magnitude of centripetal acceleration can be calculated using the formula: a = v^2 / r, where a represents centripetal acceleration, v is the linear speed of the object, and r denotes the radius of the circular path.

Example 1: Consider a car moving along a curved road. As the car negotiates the turn, it experiences centripetal acceleration towards the center of the curve, allowing it to maintain its circular path without sliding off.

Example 2: In the case of a satellite orbiting the Earth, the force of gravity acting on the satellite provides the required centripetal acceleration towards the Earth's center, preventing the satellite from moving away in a straight line.

Example 3: Amusement park rides like the Ferris wheel or carousel rely on centripetal acceleration to keep passengers moving in a circular path. The seats on these rides are strategically arranged to exert a force towards the center and maintain the circular motion.