An object is moving in a circular path. If the centripetal force is suddenly removed, how will the object move?
a) It will move radially outward.
b) It will move radially inward.
c) It will move vertically downward.
d) It will move in the direction in which its velocity vector points at the instant the centripetal force vanishes.
THINK:
In circular motion, the centripetal force is acting towards the center and the linear tangential velocity at any point on the path.
ANSWER:
An object is moving in a circular path, the centripetal force is acting towards the center. At every point on the motion of the object, there is a linear tangential velocity at that point. So, if the centripetal force is suddenly removed, then the object will move in the velocity vector points at the instant.
The potion d is correct.