centrifugal forces

flo123

excluding the answer of centrifugal forces, why is there a tension in a piece of string with a mass attached on the end, going in a HORIZONTAL circular movement, when the mass is always accelerating towards the centre anyway??

dextercioby

The tension force IS the centripetal force.So a centripetal acceleration automatically means a tension in the string.

Daniel.

flo123

is this using newtons 3rd law, that when a force acts on something, it will then have an equal force exerted back onto it? so the centripetal force keeping the mass in orbit, has an equal force (the tension) to the centripetal force in the string?