Question

An object is moving in a circle of radius 2 m at a constant speed of 5 m/s. What is its acceleration?

Answer 1

a = 12.5 m/s²

Step-by-step explanation

Given:

• The radius of the circular path, r = 2 m

,

• The speed of the object, v = 5 m/s

Find:

• The centripetal acceleration of the object, a.

The centripetal acceleration of an object moving at a speed v in a circular path of radius r is,

`a=(v^2)/(r)`

Replace the known values and solve,

`a=(5^2m^2/s^2)/(2m)=(25)/(2)m/s^2=12.5m/s^2`

Hence, the acceleration of the object is 12.5 m/s².