An object, after being released from its circular path, travels the distance OA in the same time it would have moved from O to P on the circle. The speed of the object on and off the circle remains constant at the same value. Suppose that the radius of the circle in Figure 5.4 is 3.1 m and the angle is is 25°. What is the distance OA?

Question

This question is hmmmm....Where is point P. What is the relation of P to O and A?

Point P is touching the circle at 0 degrees. Point C is at the center of the circle. Point O is also touching the circle. PCO forms an angle 25 degrees. The object is released from O and goes in a straight line away from the center of the circle to point A. A is close to P outside the circle.