alleryStart learning →What is tangential velocity?
AThe linear velocity of a point on a rotating object
BThe average angular velocity over a full revolution
CThe velocity component pointing toward the center
DThe velocity of the axis of rotation itself
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. The linear velocity of a point on a rotating object
1. A point on a spinning object still has an ordinary linear velocity at each instant.
2. That instantaneous linear velocity, tangent to the circular path, is the tangential velocity.
3. It differs from centripetal acceleration, which points toward the center rather than along the path.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 6 "Circular and Rotational Motion", section 6.1 Angle of Rotation and Angular Velocity_
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