Question

Centripetal acceleration is:

• A. a constant vector
• B. a constant scalar
• C. a magnitude changing vector
• D. not a constant vector

Answer 1

The correct option is D not a constant vector

Centripetal acceleration, $a_c=\frac{v^2}{R}$
where v is the speed of an object and R is the radius of the circle.It is always directed towards the center of the circle. Since v and R are constants for a given uniform circular motion, therefore the magnitude of centripetal acceleration is also constant. However, the direction of centripetal acceleration changes continuously. Therefore, centripetal acceleration is not a constant vector.