Question

Which of the following is correct concerning the centripetal acceleration of an object in uniform circular motion? Select one:

a. The centripetal acceleration is directed radially outward.
b. The centripetal acceleration is in the tangential direction.
c. The centripetal acceleration is directed radially inward.
d. The centripetal acceleration is constant throughout the path of the uniform circular motion.

Answer 1

Answer:

As the direction of the centripetal acceleration is always towards inward, towards the center of curvature of the circular path. So the option c is correct that the centripetal acceleration is directed radially inward.

Explanation:

Answer 2

Answer:

C. The centripetal acceleration is directed radially inward

Explanation:

Centripetal in the real sense of it means towards the centre. Any object undergoing a circular motion which is uniform (uniform circular motion) has a centripetal acceleration and that acceleration is directed radially inwards. The acceleration has a magnitude that is equal to the square of the speed of the object along the curve, divided by the distance from the center of the circle to the object in motion.

Mathematically it can be expressed as;

$a_{c}$ = $\frac{v^{2} }{r}$

Where v is the speed/velocity of the moving object and r is the distance of the object from the centre of the circle.