Question

How can you say circular motion of an object is said to be an accelerated motion.

Answer 1

We know that the speed is a scalar quantity and velocity is the vector quantity. The acceleration in a body is due to the change in velocity per unit time. So, if the velocity of a body is changed in a motion then the motion is said to be accelerated motion.

Complete step by step solution: -
We know that in uniform circular motion the body moves with a constant speed. The direction of the object changes continuously. Or we can say that the velocity changes due to continuous change in the direction of motion with a condition that the body moves with a constant speed (Speed is a scalar quantity. So, it may be constant.) The velocity of the body is not constant. So, if the body is moving in a circular path at a constant speed then its velocity changes continuously. The change in velocity gives rise to acceleration (as acceleration is the rate of change in velocity per unit time) in the moving body. So, the change in the direction of motion results in the change in the velocity which finally results in the acceleration.

Hence, the circular motion is said to be an accelerated motion even when the speed remains constant.

Additional Information:- When a body moves in a circular path then the motion is called the circular motion. If the speed of the body is constant throughout the motion then the motion is said to be uniform circular motion.

Note:- In this question, we have to remember that speed has no direction and is a scalar quantity. While velocity has direction and is a vector quantity. Acceleration of a body is always equal to the change in velocity per unit time. So, if the body has change in velocity then it definitely has acceleration. One more thing to remember that a body may have constant speed and variable velocity in the same motion.