For an object that travels at a fixed speed along 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

The centripetal acceleration of an object moving in a circle at constant speed is given by the formula a = v^2/r, where v is the speed and r is the radius. Thus, the acceleration is larger when the radius is smaller.

For an Object That Travels at a Fixed Speed Along