Question

Glenn is spinning a small block tied to the end of a string, so that the block exhibits uniform circular motion. If the string were to snap, what would happen to the block?

a. It will follow a path perpendicular to the circle.
b. It will continue along a path tangent to the circle.
c. The path cannot be know without first knowing mass and velocity.
d. It will follow a curved path, spiraling outward.

Answer 1

If the string breaks while the block is in uniform circular motion, the block will move in a straight line path tangent to the circle at the point of release, according to Newton's first law. Therefore correct option is B

Step-by-step explanation:

When Glenn is spinning a small block tied to the end of a string exhibiting uniform circular motion and the string snaps, the block will continue along a path tangent to the circle. This behavior is a consequence of Newton's first law of motion, which states that an object in motion will continue in straight-line motion unless acted upon by an external force. In this case, when the string breaks, there is no longer a centripetal force acting towards the center of the circle, so the block moves in a straight line path that is tangent to the point on the circle where it was released.