62.7k views
0 votes
Is it possible for speed to be constant while acceleration is not zero? Give an example of such a situation.

a) Yes; a car moving in a circular path at a constant speed.

b) No; constant speed implies zero acceleration.

c) Yes; a car accelerating in a straight line.

d) No; acceleration is always zero when speed is constant.

User Raul Sauco
by
7.3k points

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

Yes, speed can remain constant while acceleration is not zero, as exemplified by a car moving at a constant speed in a circular path, where the direction of velocity changes, causing non-zero acceleration.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is indeed possible for speed to be constant while acceleration is not zero. A classic example of this is a car moving in a circular path at a constant speed. In this case, the direction of the velocity changes, leading to a non-zero acceleration, even though the speed remains the same. This is because acceleration is a vector quantity that depends not only on changes in speed but also on changes in direction. So, while the magnitude of the velocity (speed) is constant, the direction is constantly changing, which means there is a centripetal acceleration towards the center of the circular path. The correct answer to the question is: a) Yes; a car moving in a circular path at a constant speed.

User Lrxw
by
7.1k points