A stone tied to a string is whirled in a circle. As it is revolving, the rope suddenly breaks. Then

Options

A. the stone flies off tangentially
B. the stone moves radially inward
C. the stone moves radially outward
D. the motion of the stone depends upon its velocity

Explanation

To solve the problem of what happens to a stone tied to a string when it is whirled in a circle and the rope suddenly breaks, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Circular Motion**:
- When the stone is being whirled in a circle, it is undergoing circular motion. In this motion, the stone experiences a centripetal force that acts towards the center of the circle, keeping it in its circular path.

2. **Identifying Forces**:
- The centripetal force is provided by the tension in the string. This force is responsible for changing the direction of the stone's velocity, allowing it to move in a circular path.

3. **Direction of Velocity**:
- At any point in circular motion, the stone has a velocity that is directed tangentially to the circle. This means that if we were to draw a line at the point where the stone is located, the velocity vector would be perpendicular to the radius of the circle at that point.

4. **What Happens When the Rope Breaks**:
- When the rope suddenly breaks, the centripetal force that was keeping the stone in circular motion is no longer acting on it. As a result, the stone will no longer follow the circular path.

5. **Path of the Stone After the Break**:
- Since the stone was moving tangentially at the moment the rope broke, it will continue to move in a straight line in the direction of the tangent to the circle at that point. This is due to Newton's first law of motion, which states that an object in motion will continue in its state of motion unless acted upon by an external force.

6. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, when the rope breaks, the stone flies off tangentially to the circle at the point where the rope broke.

### Final Answer:
The stone flies off tangentially.

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