Question

which situation during a basketball game involves centripetal acceleration?
the official tosses the ball up for the opening tip - off.
a player passes the ball to another player.
the basketball bounces off the backboard.
a player spins a basketball on his finger

Explanation:

Centripetal acceleration is the acceleration of an object moving in a circular path, directed toward the center of the circle. When a player spins a basketball on his finger, the ball moves in a circular path around the finger, so it experiences centripetal acceleration. In the other situations: tossing the ball up involves vertical motion (not circular), passing the ball is projectile motion (not circular), and bouncing off the backboard involves a change in direction due to collision (not circular motion around a center).

Answer:

D. A player spins a basketball on his finger