Question

Acceleration of a cylinder with weight

A) Increases with the cylinder's mass
B) Decreases with the cylinder's radius
C) Depends on the cylinder's material
D) Is independent of the cylinder's weight

Answer 1

Centripetal force is directly proportional to the mass, meaning more force is needed for a larger mass. Centripetal acceleration, however, is inversely proportional to the radius of curvature, so it decreases as the radius increases.

Step-by-step explanation:

The acceleration of an object in a circular path, such as a cylinder, can be influenced by several factors. However, the statement that acceleration increases with the cylinder's mass is incorrect; in fact, the centripetal force required to maintain an object's circular motion is directly proportional to the mass of the rotating body. This means that for a larger mass, more force is needed to keep it moving in a circle at a constant speed. Conversely, the centripetal acceleration is inversely proportional to the radius of curvature. As the radius of curvature increases, the centripetal acceleration required for an object to keep moving in a circular path at the same speed decreases.