Explain whether or not the following particles have acceleration:(i) a particle moving in a straight line with constant speed, and
(ii) a particle moving on a curve with constant speed.
Answers
The particle moving in a straight line with constant speed does not accelerate, while the particle moving along a curve experiences acceleration.
By Newton's first law of motion, a body in motion does not change direction unless an external force (depicted as an acceleration) acts on it. For the first particle, it does not change its speed, nor does it change direction. Hence, it does not experience any form of acceleration. However, the second particle changes direction, as it needs to follow a curve. Hence, it experiences a centripetal acceleration.
The particle moving in a straight line with constant speed does not accelerate, while the particle moving along a curve experiences acceleration.
By Newton's first law of motion, a body in motion does not change direction unless an external force (depicted as an acceleration) acts on it. For the first particle, it does not change its speed, nor does it change direction. Hence, it does not experience any form of acceleration. However, the second particle changes direction, as it needs to follow a curve. Hence, it experiences a centripetal acceleration.