A wheel is rotating in a counterclockwise direction about its center. Then suppose the rotation rate slows to zero and then speeds up to an even greater value in the opposite direction. For an object attached to the rim of the wheel: (the equation for centripetal acceleration aC = vt2/r, where vt = tangential velocity and r is the wheel radius)

What happens to the direction of the centripetal acceleration vector (what’s the overall change in the direction)?

Explanation:

When a body moves on a circular path , it undergoes a centripetal acceleration which is directed towards the centre . Whether the body moves clockwise or anticlockwise , the direction of centripetal acceleration will always oriented towards the centre.

The variation in  tangential velocity will only change the magnitude of the acceleration but the direction of the centripetal acceleration will always be directed towards the centre.

So in the given case , change in the direction of rotation will not change the direction of centripetal acceleration. It will remain unchanged towards the centre.

overall change in direction of centripetal acceleration  is zero.

im sorry i dont know