Why is an object constantly accelerating if it is traveling in a circular motion?
1 answer
An object traveling in a circular motion is constantly accelerating because its direction of motion is changing. Even if its speed remains constant, the object is accelerating towards the center of the circle due to the change in its velocity vector. This acceleration is called centripetal acceleration and is necessary to keep the object rotating in a circular path. If the centripetal force were to disappear, the object would continue in a straight line tangent to the circular path.