How does an object in circular motion experience acceleration when it is going at a constant speed?

Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity. The important thing to realise here is that velocity is a vector quantity while speed is a scalar one. An object going in circular motion has constant speed at every point on the circle but the velocity is changing because the direction at which the object is moving is changing. The velocity is always tangential to the path defined by the movement. So, because the velocity is changing at every point, this means that there is a change of velocity at time progresses. By the previously mentioned definition of acceleration, the object experiences a change of velocity at different time intervals and thus is said to be accelerating. The acceleration of the object at every point is towards the centre of the circle. 

LK
Answered by Loukas K. Physics tutor

4484 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Why do I keep losing marks on 6 markers?


Calculate the frequency of a simple pendulum of length 950 mm. Give answer to an appropriate number of significant figures.


A child is going down a snowy hill on a sledge. Draw a free-body force diagram for the child and sledge.


An electrical heater supplies 500J of heat energy to a copper cylinder of mass 32.4g Find the increase in temperature of the cylinder. (Specific heat capacity of copper = 385 J*kg^-1*Celsius^-1


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning