alleryStart learning →Centripetal acceleration changes which aspect of the velocity?
ABoth at the same time
BNeither of the two
CIts direction only
DIts magnitude only
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. Its direction only
1. The two accelerations in circular motion divide the work between them.
2. In circular motion, centripetal acceleration refers to changes in the direction of the velocity but not its magnitude.
3. Tangential acceleration changes the magnitude but not the direction.
4. Together they can change both, but each on its own changes only one.
_Source: OpenStax College Physics for AP(R) Courses 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 10 'Rotational Motion and Angular Momentum', sections 10.1-10.7_
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