Describe the two dimensions of the motion of an object in a circle due to centripetal force. Explain why putting them together results in circular motion.
1 answer
The two dimensions of the motion of an object in a circle due to centripetal force are radial acceleration and tangential velocity. Radial acceleration is the acceleration of the object towards the center of the circle, and tangential velocity is the velocity of the object in the direction of the circumference of the circle. When these two components are combined, the object will experience a net force towards the center of the circle, causing it to move in a circular path. This is because the radial acceleration is constantly changing the direction of the velocity, so that the object is always moving in a curved path. The combination of the two components results in a circular motion.