Question

Keeping the linear velocity of a particle moving in a circular path constant, as the radius of the circular path decreases, the centripetal acceleration?

• A. remains the same
• B. decreases
• C. decreases initially and then increases
• D. increases

Answer 1

Answer:

D. increases

Centripetal acceleration is given by the formula ac = v² / r, where v is the linear velocity and r is the radius of the circular path. For a constant linear velocity, as the radius of the circular path decreases, the centripetal acceleration increases. This is because centripetal acceleration is inversely proportional to the radius of the circular path. The increased centripetal acceleration implies a higher force required to keep the particle moving in the circular path