How does a centripetal force cause circular motion?

It acts at a right angle to the object's motion and causes the object to constantly change direction.

It acts at a right angle to the object's motion and causes the object to constantly change speed.

It acts in the direction of the object's motion and causes the object to constantly change direction.

It acts in the direction of the object's motion and causes the object to constantly change speed.

Question

Physics

Neveah Mays

3 July, 12:13

How does a centripetal force cause circular motion?

It acts at a right angle to the object's motion and causes the object to constantly change direction.

It acts at a right angle to the object's motion and causes the object to constantly change speed.

It acts in the direction of the object's motion and causes the object to constantly change direction.

It acts in the direction of the object's motion and causes the object to constantly change speed.

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Answers (1)

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Rylie Yoder · Answer 1

Centripetal force comes from the Latin, centrum = centre and petere=to seek. It acts perpendicular to the object path, towards the center of the curve. This results in change of the direction of the object's velocity but not in change of object's speed.

So only the first option is correct: It acts at a right angle to the object's motion and causes the object to constantly change direction.

The other three options are false.