(a) Identify the kind of motion in the following cases:(i) A car moving with constant speed turning around a curve.(ii) An electron orbiting around the nucleus

1. Identify the Kind of Motion

In physics, motion can be classified based on various criteria such as speed, direction, and acceleration.

(i) A car moving with constant speed turning around a curve

• Type of Motion: This is an example of uniform circular motion.
• Explanation: Although the car maintains a constant speed, the direction of the velocity vector is continuously changing due to the curvature of the path. This means that the car is accelerating (centripetal acceleration) as it changes direction, even though its speed remains constant.

(ii) An electron orbiting around the nucleus

• Type of Motion: This is also classified as circular motion, specifically quantum circular motion in the context of atomic physics.
• Explanation: An electron moves in an orbit around the nucleus, where it exhibits quantized energy levels. The motion of the electron can be modeled similarly to that of a planet orbiting a star; however, the principles of quantum mechanics come into play, meaning its path and behavior differ significantly from classical descriptions.

Summary

Both scenarios depict circular motion, with the car exhibiting uniform circular motion in a classical sense, while the electron's motion reflects principles from quantum mechanics.