Uniform circular motion: If an object travels at a constant speed in a circular path, the acceleration of the object is
A) larger in magnitude the smaller the radius of the circle.
B) in the same direction as the velocity of the object.
C) smaller in magnitude the smaller the radius of the circle.
D) in the opposite direction of the velocity of the object.
E) zero.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In uniform circular motion, the acceleration is directed towards the center of the circle, known as centripetal acceleration. Its magnitude is given by $a = \frac{v^2}{r}$, where $v$ is the velocity and $r$ is the radius of the circle. Thus, the acceleration is larger for smaller radii.

Uniform Circular Motion: If an Object Travels at a Constant