The component of acceleration perpendicular to an object’s velocity tells us: A. How the object’s speed changes. B. The influence of gravity. C. How the object’s direction changes.

Option C is correct.

The component of acceleration perpendicular to an object’s velocity tells us How the object’s direction changes.

Explanation:

This acceleration is called radial/tangential acceleration. It is the reason why a body moving in circular motion with constant velocity can be said to also be accelerating because its direction is continuously changing. The acceleration is usually directed towards the centre of the circular motion of the body or trying to throw the body off its circular motion path.