Question #5f810

1 Answer
Sep 22, 2015

It should be #90°#

Explanation:

Have a look:
enter image source here
where #a_c# is centripetal acceleration.

To have uniform circular motion we need velocity which is constant in modulus BUT changes continuously in direction (to be able to describe a circle)! This change implies acceleration.

The acceleration (and the force responsible for it) will be directed towards the center of the circular trajectory and is called Centripetal Acceleration.

This unique configuration allows our object to go round a circle having the velocity vector tangent (continuously) to the circular trajectory and acceleration at #90^@# to it directed towards the center.

If acceleration disappears the body will fly away tangentially in the direction of the last tangential velocity it had.