Exam-style question
Try this first
Which of the following best describes the role of centripetal force in circular motion?.
- A.It increases the speed of the object.
- B.It changes the direction of the object's velocity.
- C.It decreases the object's mass.
- D.It acts in the direction of motion.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- It changes the direction of the object's velocity.
Explanation
Why this works
Centripetal force acts perpendicular to the direction of motion, changing the direction of the object's velocity while maintaining its speed, allowing it to follow a circular path.
Common mistake
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