Question

A boy is whirling a stone tied with a string in a horizontal circular path. If the string breaks, the stone

• A. will continue to move in the circular path
• B. will move along a straight line towards the centre of the circular path
• C. will move along a straight line tangential to the circular path
• D. will move along a straight line perpendicular to the circular path away from the boy

Answer 1

The correct option is C

will move along a straight line tangential to the circular path

Circular motion

1. Circular motion is defined as the movement of an object along a circular path while rotating.
2. Circular motion can be uniform or non-uniform in nature.
3. The angular rate of rotation and speed is constant in a uniform circular motion, whereas the rate of rotation changes in non-uniform motion.

Centripetal force

1. A centripetal force is a net force acting on an object in order to maintain it moving in a circular motion.

Path of stone if string breaks

1. The centripetal force acts towards the center of the circular path when the boy whirls a stone linked to a string in a circular path.
2. When the string breaks, the centripetal force ceases and there is no force acting.
3. Due to Newton's first law, the stone will continue in a straight line and fly off along the tangent to the circular path.

Thus, a boy is whirling a stone tied with a string in a horizontal circular path. If the string breaks, the stone will move along a straight line tangential to the circular path.

Hence, option (C) is the correct answer.