Why is an object that moves in a circular path accelerating when it has constant speed?

Think about the definition of acceleration - it is the rate of change of velocity. Your statement that the object's speed is constant is correct, can you think about why the object's velocity isn't constant? Velocity is a vector which means it has a direction as well as a magnitude, and the object's velocity is changing directiion (constantly) as it moves in a circle, therefore the rate of change of velocity = acceleration is non zero.

IS

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

A bungee jumper of mass 160kg falls from a cliff. The bungee cord has a natural length of 5.0m and a stiffness constant of 3.0N/m. The air resistance is a constant force of 4.0N, what's the speed of the jumper when the total length of cord is 5.9m?


Why do atoms larger than iron release energy when they undergo fission?


Describe how the strong nuclear force between two nucleons varies with the separation of the nucleons, quoting suitable values for separation.


What is a vector quantity