If an object is in uniform circular motion, then it is accelerating towards the center of the circle; yet the object never gets any closer to the center of the circle. It maintains a circular path at a constant radius from the circle's center. Suggest a reason as to how this can be. How can an object accelerate towards the center without ever getting any closer to the center?

Question

Physics

Joslyn Stark

30 January, 16:00

If an object is in uniform circular motion, then it is accelerating towards the center of the circle; yet the object never gets any closer to the center of the circle. It maintains a circular path at a constant radius from the circle's center. Suggest a reason as to how this can be. How can an object accelerate towards the center without ever getting any closer to the center?

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Answers (1)

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Hamza Gross · Answer 1

When an object moves in a circle with constant velocity, acceleration is experienced by the object towards the center of the circle. It is due to the change in the direction of the velocity vector which is generating the centripetal acceleration. Thus it the acceleration which velocity is generating itself, so it is not able to move body inwards.

Also, inertia and tangential velocity cause the body to move in the circular path.