Centripetal force is the force that acts on an object moving in a circular path towards the center of that circle. In a central force system, the centripetal force is provided by a central force that acts towards the center of rotation.
The centripetal force is directly proportional to the speed of the object and the square of its mass. This means that as the speed or mass of the object increases, the centripetal force required to keep it in its circular path also increases.
An example of a central force system is a planet orbiting around the Sun. The Sun exerts a gravitational force towards its center, providing the centripetal force that keeps the planet in its orbit.
Centripetal force acts towards the center of the circle, while centrifugal force appears to act away from the center. However, centrifugal force is actually an apparent force caused by the inertia of the object, and does not actually exist.
The magnitude of the centripetal force can be calculated using the formula F = mv^2/r, where m is the mass of the object, v is its velocity, and r is the radius of its circular path. Alternatively, it can also be calculated using the formula F = mrω^2, where ω is the angular velocity of the object.