20.8k views
4 votes
Kent is twirling a ball attached to a string in a clockwise direction. If Kent lets go of the string, which of the following describes the motion that the ball will take if there are no gravitational forces influencing the motion of the ball?

User Buzzrick
by
7.9k points

2 Answers

2 votes
Kent's ball will go in the direction that the ball is going right when he lets go of it.

Imagine this like an analog clock. 12 is forwards, 6 is behind, 3 is right, and 9 is left relative to Kent. If Kent is twirling the ball clockwise and lets go at 3, the, the ball will go behind him as the velocity vector exactly at 3 points behind Kent in a clockwise motion. Here are Kents velocity vectors according to my clock analogy. Hope this helps because this is how I learned it!
Kent is twirling a ball attached to a string in a clockwise direction. If Kent lets-example-1
User Alex Hirzel
by
7.1k points
0 votes

It will continue in a straight line.

User Josh Arenberg
by
7.4k points