Velocity and net force vectors ...Is velocity tangent to the trajectory?

2. An object moves clockwise along the trajectory shown in the top-view diagram below. The acceleration


varies, but is always directed towards point D (D is inside the circumference)


a. Draw and label arrows on the diagram at points A, B and C to represent:


the direction of the velocity of the object, and


the direction of the net force on the object.


A,B, C are on the circumference of the trajectory.D is inside the trajectory meaning not in the circumference.


Explain how you knew to draw the arrows as you did.


Is the velocity tangent to the trajectory or it is perpendicular to the acceleration vector towards D. The problem is if I draw velocity vector tangential it is not perpendicular to acceleration vector.

Velocity and net force vectors ...Is velocity tangent to the trajectory?
No, that's actually not a problem. You're doing it right.








To get you over this hump, an extreme example in nature is a comet's orbit. Far away, the acceleration vector is nearly parallel to the velocity vector. The acceleration vector points at the sun. The velocity vector points roughly toward the sun. As the comet falls inside Venus's, then Mercury's orbits, the two vectors become much more distinct. But through most of a comet's orbit, when it is in fact in an orbit that brings it close to the sun, the acceleration vector and velocity vector are nearly parallel.

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