91.9k views
5 votes
Which of the following objects is accelerating?

A.) A car driving in a circle at a constant speed of 35 mph
B.) A car driving in a northwest at a constant speed of 35 mph
C.) A car driving south at a constant speed of 45 mph
D.) A car driving southwest at a constant speed of 35 mph

User Toothbrush
by
5.7k points

2 Answers

5 votes

Final answer:

A car driving in a circle at a constant speed is accelerating because it constantly changes direction, resulting in centripetal acceleration. So the correct option is A.

Step-by-step explanation:

The object that is accelerating among the choices provided is A) A car driving in a circle at a constant speed of 35 mph. Acceleration refers to a change in velocity, which includes changes in either speed or direction. Although this car maintains a constant speed, the direction is constantly changing as it moves in a circle, resulting in a centripetal acceleration towards the center of the circle. All the other options describe motion in a straight line at a constant speed, where neither the speed nor the direction is changing, so these are not cases of acceleration.

Acceleration can occur in three main ways: by speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction. The car driving in a circle at a constant speed is accelerating because of the change in direction, even though the speed remains unchanged.

User Mrydengren
by
6.4k points
1 vote

Answer:

A

Step-by-step explanation:

Constant speed (without change in direction) is not accelerating. If you are slowing down, speeding up, or changing direction, you are accelerating

User Praneeth
by
5.7k points