Question

If the velocity of an object traveling along a circular path were to decrease by 3 times the amount (all other variables held constant), then what would happen to the force?

a) The force would decrease by a factor of 3.
b) The force would increase by a factor of 3.
c) The force would remain unchanged.
d) The force would decrease by a factor of 9.

Answer 1

If the velocity of an object traveling along a circular path were to decrease by 3 times the amount, the force would increase by a factor of 3.

Step-by-step explanation:

b) The force would increase by a factor of 3.

If the velocity of an object traveling along a circular path decreases by 3 times the amount, the centripetal force acting on the object would increase by the same factor. The current that flows through the bulb of a flashlight when given a voltage and resistance can be calculated using Ohm's Law, which states that the current (I) is equal to the voltage (V) divided by the resistance (R). Centripetal force is directly proportional to the square of the velocity, so if the velocity decreases by 3 times, the force will increase by a factor of 3 squared, which is 9.