Question

A girl standing on the edge of a rotating playground ride files off the ride when the ride is suddenly stopped by a boy.
The diagram shows the ride (yellow) and the girl (red) as viewed from above at the instant the ride is stopped. The curved arrow shows the direction of the rotation of the ride before it was stopped.
Which arrow shows the direction of the girl's velocity at the instant she flies off the ride?

• A. $\leftarrow$
• B. $\downarrow$
• C. $\to$
• D. $\uparrow$
• E. $\swarrow$

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

$\downarrow$

A centripetal force was acting on the girl when she was in the circular motion, keeping her in the circular path. As soon as she flies off, the centripetal force acting on it towards left at the shown instant is removed, and it flies off with same velocity as that at the instant of fly off. Hence the direction girl's path after fly off is vertically downward.

Correct answer is option B.