What is the acceleration of a body in uniform circular motion directed towards?

Last Updated: 25 Jun 2026

What is the acceleration of a body in uniform circular motion directed towards? Here, the relevant answer is “Towards the center.” A sound solution relies on the governing concept rather than a memorised option letter, because option order may change in another paper. While reading a question, first note whether it asks for a definition, SI unit, formula, direction, cause, effect, or practical use. The distractors in this question—Tangential direction, Away from center, Opposite to velocity—do not satisfy the exact condition stated.

ATangential direction

BAway from center

CTowards the center

DOpposite to velocity

Correct Answer: Towards the centerYour Answer: C

Explanation

— the scientifically appropriate response is Towards the center. Option-wise review: Towards the center is correct under the condition given in the stem. Tangential direction is incorrect because it describes a different quantity or phenomenon and does not meet the stated condition. Away from center is also incorrect; although it may be a valid physics term, its definition or application is not the one asked here. Opposite to velocity is incorrect because it fails the governing relation or characteristic relevant to this case. Identify the chapter, recall the exact definition or equation, check the unit or direction if applicable, and then eliminate choices that contradict it. Therefore, option C, Towards the center, is factually and logically consistent with the question.

Important Notes

Read the complete stem before looking at the options. Identify whether the demand is a definition, unit, formula, direction, cause, effect, image characteristic, or device principle. In this record, the confirmed answer is Towards the center.
Physics answers are condition-dependent. The same lens, force, circuit, wave, or thermodynamic system can behave differently when distance, medium, temperature, direction, or boundary conditions change. Preserve every qualifier in the question.
Do not interchange closely related terms: mass and weight; distance and displacement; speed and velocity; heat and temperature; reflection and refraction; real and virtual image; current and potential difference; power and energy. Such pairs generate common SSC distractors.
Eliminate Tangential direction, Away from center, Opposite to velocity here because none fulfils the exact requirement of the stem. The final answer and correct-index field must point to option C.

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FAQ

SSC CGL Physics FAQs

Common questions and clear answers for this topic.

How many physics questions usually appear in the SSC CGL exam?

Physics typically makes up a small portion of the General Science questions, usually focused on concepts rather than numerical problems.

Which physics topics are most important for SSC CGL?

Basic mechanics, heat, sound and light, and electricity and magnetism are the areas that come up most consistently across previous papers.

Do I need to solve numerical problems for SSC CGL physics?

Rarely. Most questions are conceptual and test everyday understanding rather than calculation skills.

Is NCERT physics enough for SSC CGL preparation?

NCERT textbooks from classes 9 and 10 build a strong enough conceptual base for most of what SSC CGL asks.

How can I make physics concepts easier to remember for SSC CGL?

Connecting concepts to everyday observations, like why a thermos keeps tea warm, makes them far easier to recall than memorizing definitions.

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