The velocity vector of an object with a centripetal acceleration is never tangent to the circular path.

Question 4 options:

True

False

The velocity vector of an object with a centripetal acceleration is never tangent to the circular path is False.

Answer: False

Explanation:

Centripetal acceleration is a feature of objects in uniform circular motion. In that case velocity is along the tangent drawn to the circular path. For an object to be called accelerating its velocity should be variable but speed needn't.

Even when the speed is constant an object can be accelerating. The direction of velocity of an object in uniform circular motion keeps changing continuously. This change in velocity in uniform circular motion is equal to the centripetal acceleration.