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Why are your velocity changes when you ride a ferris wheel even if the wheel turns at a constant speed?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
A ferris wheel turning at a constant speed has no change in speed. But velocity is speed with a direction vector attached to it. Speed with a direction component is velocity. In this case, the distance per unit of time (speed) that something is traveling is constant, but the direction it is traveling is constantly changing because that something is moving in an arc (or circle). It's a ferris wheel, and anything on it has its velocity changing. Velocity is changing every second because the direction it is moving is changing. Any change in the velocity of an object will require that the object be accelerated. Even if its speed is constant, it will experience acceleration to change "just" the direction it is traveling. It's the same with an object in orbit. The object will be cruising along at a constant speed, but its velocity will be constantly changing. This is because the direction the object is moving is changing because it is being accelerated constantly to get it to move in an arc. The object was put in orbit, and it was accelerated into that orbit. Now, the object is being acted on constantly by gravity. The gravity is pulling the object back to earth, but if we look at where it is going at any instant of time, it is moving on a tangent to its path of travel. It moves a tiny bit on that tangent, and gravity pulls it "in" just a tiny bit, and that makes it path an arc. A little on the tangent, and a little "in" toward earth. A little more on the "new" tangent path, and a little "in" toward earth. A little more along the new tangent path, and a little more in toward earth. A smooth arc - a circle. The object in orbit is constantly being accelerated toward earth, and this acceleration constantly changes its velocity (but not its speed), and it moves in that circular orbit.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoI feel like I'm answering someone's homework!
Acceleration is a rate of change of velocity; velocity is a speed with direction so although an object on a rotating wheel is moving at constant speed, its direction is continually changing - so it is continually accelerating.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoVelocity is a vector whereas speed only has magnitude, velocity takes into account an objects speed as-well as its direction. When an object has changing velocity, the object is said to be accelerating. The situation you describe is known as circular motion.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoBecause you are constantly changing direction
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If the instantaneous velocity of an object remains constand can its instantaneous speed change?
No. Speed can remain constant when velocity changes, but velocity can't remain constant when speed changes.
Does velocity of an object remain constant in uniform circular motion?
Velocity is a vector with magnitude (speed) and direction. Since the linear velocity changes direction the speed is constant but the velocity is NOT constant.
Why the speed of an object is constant while the velocity is not?
This is not always the case. But if an object moves in a circle, at constant speed, its velocity will change. Velocity is a vector - consisting of the magnitude (the speed), and a direction. So by definition, if the direction changes, the velocity changes - you have a different vector.
Explain why velocity changes while driving around a circular track even if the speed is constant?
Velocity consists of a speed and a direction. If any of the two changes, the velocity changes.
When you run around a track at 5 km h your velocity is constant?
No. Your speed is constant but your velocity is not. Velocity is a vector and as you run around a track, the direction of your motion changes and so the velocity changes - not in magnitude but in direction.
If a ferris wheel is rotating at constant speed is it moving at a constant velocity?
No. Velocity combines speed and the direction of motion.Constant velocity is constant speed in a straight line.In circular motion, the velocity is always changing even if the speed is constant,because the direction is always changing.
If the instantaneous velocity of an object remains constand can its instantaneous speed change?
No. Speed can remain constant when velocity changes, but velocity can't remain constant when speed changes.
Does constant speed give you constant velocity?
No. The speed can be consant but direction can change and thus the velocity changes.
Does velocity of an object remain constant in uniform circular motion?
Velocity is a vector with magnitude (speed) and direction. Since the linear velocity changes direction the speed is constant but the velocity is NOT constant.
Why the speed of an object is constant while the velocity is not?
This is not always the case. But if an object moves in a circle, at constant speed, its velocity will change. Velocity is a vector - consisting of the magnitude (the speed), and a direction. So by definition, if the direction changes, the velocity changes - you have a different vector.
Explain why velocity changes while driving around a circular track even if the speed is constant?
Velocity consists of a speed and a direction. If any of the two changes, the velocity changes.
When you run around a track at 5 km h your velocity is constant?
No. Your speed is constant but your velocity is not. Velocity is a vector and as you run around a track, the direction of your motion changes and so the velocity changes - not in magnitude but in direction.
Why is the velocity 0 when your speed is constant?
It's not. If you speed is constant (but not zero), then your velocity won't be zero, either.You may be confusing this with the following: If your VELOCITY (not your speed) is constant, then your ACCELERATION is zero. Acceleration refers to how quickly velocity changes, so if velocity doesn't change at all, acceleration is zero.
Why is it an object can accelerate while travelling at constant speed but not at constant velocity?
Acceleration means the velocity changes. Velocity is made up of speed and a direction, so if only the direction changes, the velocity still changes, and therefore there is acceleration. The typical example is moving around in a circle.
Can the velocity of a car which is turning a curve be held constant?
The speed can be constant but the velocity can't, because the directionof motion ... which is a component of velocity ... is changing. Also the velocity of a moving body changes when its speed changes but remains moving towards the same direction ... :) :]
' uniform motion in a circle in which speed is constant but velocity is changing'?
This is because the term "velocity" includes a specification both of a speed, and a direction. The direction changes, therefore the velocity changes.
What is the difference between constant velocity and variable velocity?
Constant velocity has speed always constant along the direction with respect to time. Variable velocity changes its speed with respect to time. Constant velocity has zero acceleration. Variable velocity has non-zero acceleration . An object moving at a constant velocity maintains both the same speed and direction. An object moving at a variable velocity can be changing speed or direction of travel or both.
