Question

An object moving in a circle is represented by the motion map.

An illustration of a circle with four black dots on the top labeled W, bottom labeled Y, left labeled Z and right labeled X of the circle. Each dot has a vector toward the center of the circle of equal length and a vector tangent to the circle in a counterclockwise direction of equal length.
Based on the map, at which point is the object accelerating toward the right?

W
X
Y
Z

Answer 1

Both Y and Z.

Explanation: at Y the tangential component points right and the radial (centripetal) component points up, giving a net up‑and‑right acceleration; at Z the radial component points right and the tangential component points down, giving a net down‑and‑right acceleration. (If the question meant “purely to the right,” then none of the four points has a purely rightward acceleration.)