Question

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Answer 1

This question deals with circular motion.

An object in circular motion is held in a circular path due to a force acting upon it. If there was no force, the object would simply continue at a constant velocity in a single direction.

In order to keep the object in circular motion, imagine a hand pushing the object inwards towards the center of the circle at every point on the circle, trying to prevent the object from escaping its circular path. That is the idea of centripetal force- a force acting inwards on the object.

As you should definitely know, F = ma. In other words, a force produces an acceleration. So the direction of the object's acceleration, in circular motion, would also be towards the center of the circle, since that is the direction that the centripetal force is acting.

Lastly, the object's velocity would be depicted as vectors that are tangential to the circular path of motion. At any given point, the object is going to want to head in a straight line, but that hypothetical hand will push it towards the center of the circle, thus accelerating it off the inertial straight path and along the circular path.

This is not the specific solution to your questions, but it should be enough for you to do what is asked.