Question

A car traveling at a constant speed goes around a sharp curve. Is the car accelerating? Explain.

Answer 1

Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity of any object with time.

$Acceleration =\frac{\bigtriangleup v}{t}$

Since, speed is kept constant but direction is changed as it goes around the sharp curve and change in the direction results in acceleration as velocity is a vector quantity which depends upon magnitude as well as on direction.

Although, speed of the car is constant, for motion around the sharp curve, the direction is changing; hence the car will have acceleration.

Thus, the car has acceleration because it is changing direction as it goes around the curve.

Answer 2

Yes the car is accelerating because it is changing direction as it goes around the corner