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  • Centripetal Acceleration: Understanding Circular Motion
    An object moving in a circular path at a constant speed has an acceleration. This is because velocity is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (speed) and direction.

    Here's why:

    * Changing Direction: Even though the object's speed is constant, its direction is constantly changing as it moves in a circle. This change in direction means the object's velocity is changing.

    * Acceleration: Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. Since the velocity is changing, the object is accelerating.

    * Centripetal Acceleration: This acceleration is called centripetal acceleration, which always points towards the center of the circle.

    Key Points:

    * An object moving in a circular path at constant speed does have acceleration.

    * The acceleration is called centripetal acceleration and is directed towards the center of the circle.

    * The magnitude of the centripetal acceleration is given by the formula: a = v^2/r, where v is the speed and r is the radius of the circle.

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