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Brainteasers

Cutting the string of a whirling ball

physicscircular-motioninertiaclassic

A ball on a string is whirled round in a horizontal circle on a frictionless table. At one instant the string is cut.

Seen from above, which way does the ball move immediately afterwards: straight outward away from the centre, along a curve continuing the circle, or in some other direction?

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What was the string doing, and what happens when it stops doing it?

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