The Mystery of Tangential Velocity

What is the direction of travel for a small ceramic piece flying off a spinning potter's wheel?

A. Outward in a random direction
B. Upward
C. Inward towards the center of the wheel
D. Tangentially

Answer:

The small ceramic piece will travel in the direction tangential to the point where it leaves the spinning potter's wheel due to the principles of circular motion.

When a small piece of ceramic flies off a spinning potter's wheel, it will move in a direction that is tangential to the point where it leaves the wheel. This phenomenon is governed by the concept of tangential velocity in circular motion.

According to the principles of circular motion, objects moving in a circle have an instantaneous velocity that is always tangent to the circle at the point where the object is located. This means that the small ceramic piece will travel in a path that is tangent to the spinning wheel at the moment it leaves.

Imagine drawing a line from the center of the spinning wheel to the point where the ceramic piece flies off. The ceramic piece's path will form a 90-degree angle with this line, moving tangentially away from the center of the wheel.

This concept can be better understood by thinking about a fly on the edge of a rotating record. The direction of the fly's instantaneous velocity, and therefore the path it would take if it were to leave the record's surface, is tangent to the record's circumference. This is because the centripetal force keeping it in circular motion is no longer acting, allowing its tangential velocity to dictate its direction of travel.

In conclusion, when a small ceramic piece flies off a spinning potter's wheel, it will move tangentially in the direction it was moving at the instant it left the wheel. This showcases the fascinating dynamics of tangential velocity in circular motion.