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Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1]
Exam
Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1]
Subject
Physics
Chapter
Circular Motion

Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 1] · Physics · Circular Motion

Suppose the earth revolves around the sun in a circular orbit,...

Suppose the earth revolves around the sun in a circular orbit, maintaining a constant speed of 30 km/s30 \text{ km/s}.

Options

  1. AFrom 1st Jan, 90 to 30th June, 90, the average velocity of the earth is zero.
  2. BDuring the aforementioned period, the average acceleration is 60 km/s260 \text{ km/s}^2.
  3. CFrom 1st Jan, 90 to 31st Dec, 90, the average speed of the earth is zero.
  4. DThe instantaneous acceleration of the earth is directed towards the sun.

Correct answer

D. The instantaneous acceleration of the earth is directed towards the sun.

Step-by-step solution

In uniform circular motion, the instantaneous acceleration is the centripetal acceleration, which is always directed towards the centre of the circular path. Since the earth revolves around the sun in a circular orbit, its instantaneous acceleration is directed towards the sun.

From 1st Jan to 30th June (approximately half a year), the earth completes half of its orbit. The displacement is equal to the diameter of the orbit, which is non-zero, making the average velocity non-zero.

During this half-year period, the change in velocity is 2v=60 km/s2v = 60 \text{ km/s}. The average acceleration is ΔvΔt=60half a year in seconds km/s2\dfrac{\Delta v}{\Delta t} = \dfrac{60}{\text{half a year in seconds}} \text{ km/s}^2, which is much less than 60 km/s260 \text{ km/s}^2.

From 1st Jan to 31st Dec (one full year), the distance travelled is the circumference of the orbit. The average speed is the constant speed of 30 km/s30 \text{ km/s}, not zero.
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