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A car is driving around a curve that can be approximated as being circular. What direction does the centripetal force point?

a.Towards the center of the circle.
b.Perpendicular to the plane of the circle.
c.In the direction of motion.
d.Tangential to the circle.
e.Away from the center of the circle.

User Albertosh
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The centripetal force experienced by a car driving in a circular curve points towards the center of the circle, being perpendicular to the car's tangential velocity.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a car is driving around a curve that approximates a circle, the direction of the centripetal force always points toward the center of the circle. This force is necessary for the car to maintain its circular path, and it is considered a "center-seeking" force. According to Newton's second law, this force can be described as the net force causing uniform circular motion, and its magnitude is given by the mass of the car times the centripetal acceleration (Fc = m * ac). It's important to note that the centripetal force is perpendicular to the car's tangential velocity at any point along the circular path.

User Shirin Niki
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