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The average rate of change of acceleration of a particle moving in uniform circular motion for half a revolution is

A. Zero
B. Maximum
C. Minimum
D. Constant

User Hakju Oh
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

In uniform circular motion, a particle moves at a constant speed, and the centripetal acceleration directed towards the center remains constant in magnitude. Therefore, the average rate of change of acceleration for half a revolution is constant, specifically constant at zero, as there are no changes in the speed or magnitude of acceleration.

Step-by-step explanation:

The average rate of change of acceleration for a particle in uniform circular motion is a concept rooted in classical mechanics, a branch of Physics. In uniform circular motion, the speed of the particle is constant, but its direction is continually changing, which means there is a constant acceleration towards the center of the circle, known as centripetal acceleration. This centripetal acceleration does not change in magnitude, as there is no tangential acceleration altering the particle's speed. By definition, uniform circular motion excludes the possibility of a changing speed, making the average rate of change of acceleration zero, since the acceleration's direction is changing but not its magnitude.

When dealing with half a revolution in uniform circular motion, the acceleration vector points towards the center of the circle at all times. Since the particle's speed is unchanged and there are no other forces or accelerations applied tangentially, the average rate of change of acceleration over any segment of the path, including half a revolution, remains constant—in this case, constant at zero, because the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration is constant.

User Nuaky
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