When an object in circular motion is released, which path will it follow?

When an object in circular motion is released, it will travel in a straight line tangent to its circular path. This behavior is a direct consequence of Newton's first law of motion, which states that an object in motion will continue in a straight line at constant speed unless acted upon by an external force.

At the moment of release, the object no longer experiences the centripetal force that keeps it moving in a circular path. The only forces acting on the object will be the forces like gravity if considered, but immediately after release, there is no force directing the object toward the center of the circular path. Therefore, the object will continue to move in the same direction it was headed at the point of release, which is tangential to the circle at that point.

This principle is essential in understanding motion, particularly in dynamics and kinematics, as it highlights the difference between motion under the influence of forces and motion once those forces are removed.