What type of motion involves constant change in both speed and direction?

What type of motion involves constant change in both speed and direction?

• A. Tangential motion
• B. Linear motion
• C. Circular motion
• D. Projectile motion

Answer: (C)

The type of motion that involves a constant change in both speed and direction is circular motion. In circular motion, an object travels along a curved path, specifically a circular path, and its direction is continuously changing as it moves. This change in direction is due to the centripetal acceleration that acts towards the center of the circular path, keeping the object in that path. Even if the speed remains constant, the velocity (which includes both the magnitude and direction) changes because the direction is constantly changing. If the object's speed were to vary while moving in a circle, both the speed and direction would still change, confirming that circular motion inherently involves changes in both these aspects. This fundamental characteristic distinguishes circular motion from other types, where the path or conditions typically do not involve such consistent alterations in both speed and direction.

The type of motion that involves a constant change in both speed and direction is circular motion. In circular motion, an object travels along a curved path, specifically a circular path, and its direction is continuously changing as it moves. This change in direction is due to the centripetal acceleration that acts towards the center of the circular path, keeping the object in that path.

Even if the speed remains constant, the velocity (which includes both the magnitude and direction) changes because the direction is constantly changing. If the object's speed were to vary while moving in a circle, both the speed and direction would still change, confirming that circular motion inherently involves changes in both these aspects. This fundamental characteristic distinguishes circular motion from other types, where the path or conditions typically do not involve such consistent alterations in both speed and direction.