Multiple choice

A stone which is tied to a thread is whirled in a circular path. As it revolves, the thread suddenly breaks. What happens then?

  1. The stone moves radially inward.

  2. The stone flies off tangentially.

  3. The stone moves radially outward.

  4. The stone falls straight down.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Yes, it is correct. The string exerts a force that continuously causes the stone to deviate from the straight line path the stone's inertia would cause it to follow. When the string caeses to exert that force, the stone continues along the tangential path that it currently is following.

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