<P> Radial acceleration is used when calculating the total force . Tangential acceleration is not used in calculating total force because it is not responsible for keeping the object in a circular path . The only acceleration responsible for keeping an object moving in a circle is the radial acceleration . Since the sum of all forces is the centripetal force, drawing centripetal force into a free body diagram is not necessary and usually not recommended . </P> <P> Using F n e t = F c (\ displaystyle F_ (net) = F_ (c) \,), we can draw free body diagrams to list all the forces acting on an object then set it equal to F c (\ displaystyle F_ (c) \,). Afterwards, we can solve for what ever is unknown (this can be mass, velocity, radius of curvature, coefficient of friction, normal force, etc .). For example, the visual above showing an object at the top of a semicircle would be expressed as F c = n + m g (\ displaystyle F_ (c) = n + mg \,). </P> <P> In uniform circular motion, total acceleration of an object in a circular path is equal to the radial acceleration . Due to the presence of tangential acceleration in non uniform circular motion, that does not hold true any more . To find the total acceleration of an object in non uniform circular, find the vector sum of the tangential acceleration and the radial acceleration . </P> <Dl> <Dd> a r 2 + a t 2 = a (\ displaystyle (\ sqrt (a_ (r) ^ (2) + a_ (t) ^ (2))) = a) </Dd> </Dl>

How to find total acceleration in circular motion