Question

If a person whirls an object horizontally in a counter clockwise direction and the string breaks at point P as shown, what path will the rock follow?

A.
position A
B.
position B
C.
position C
D.
position D
E.
position E

Answer 1

The path the object will follow after the string breaks is C. Straight line tangent to the original circular path at point P.

if the string breaks while an object is being whirled horizontally, the object will follow a straight line tangent to the original circular path at the point of breaking.

When the string breaks, the object is no longer subjected to the centripetal force, which kept it moving in a circle. However, due to inertia, the object will resist changing its direction of motion.

At the point of breaking, the object has a specific horizontal velocity directed tangent to the circular path. This means it will continue moving in a straight line along that direction.

Assuming there is no air resistance, the object will continue moving in a straight line tangent to the original circular path at point P.

Therefore, the correct answer is C. Straight line tangent to the original circular path at point P.