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center of curvature

American  

noun

Mathematics.
  1. the center of the circle of curvature.


Etymology

Origin of center of curvature

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

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Centripetal force Fc is always perpendicular to the path and pointing to the center of curvature, because ac is perpendicular to the velocity and pointing to the center of curvature.

From Textbooks Aug. 12, 2015

These two forces must add to give a net external force that is horizontal toward the center of curvature and has magnitude mv2 /r .

From Textbooks Aug. 12, 2015

The direction of a centripetal force is toward the center of curvature, the same as the direction of centripetal acceleration.

From Textbooks Aug. 12, 2015

Figure 6.8 The directions of the velocity of an object at two different points are shown, and the change in velocity Δv is seen to point directly toward the center of curvature.

From Textbooks Aug. 12, 2015

To run round a curve, the axis of each must, if continued, pass through the center of curvature of the curve.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 447, July 26, 1884 by Various

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