The velocity vector in circular motion is always tangent to the circle at the object's position. The acceleration, known as centripetal acceleration, is always directed along the radius towards the center of the circle. A line tangent to a circle is always perpendicular to the radius at the point of tangency. Therefore, the direction of acceleration (towards the center) is always perpendicular to the direction of velocity (tangent to the circle).
The direction of acceleration in uniform circular motion is along the
Asked in UPSC CDS 1 2021 · Topic: Mechanics (Newton's Laws of Motion and their applications)
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