What is Centripetal force: Definition and 561 Discussions

A centripetal force (from Latin centrum, "center" and petere, "to seek") is a force that makes a body follow a curved path. Its direction is always orthogonal to the motion of the body and towards the fixed point of the instantaneous center of curvature of the path. Isaac Newton described it as "a force by which bodies are drawn or impelled, or in any way tend, towards a point as to a centre". In Newtonian mechanics, gravity provides the centripetal force causing astronomical orbits.
One common example involving centripetal force is the case in which a body moves with uniform speed along a circular path. The centripetal force is directed at right angles to the motion and also along the radius towards the centre of the circular path. The mathematical description was derived in 1659 by the Dutch physicist Christiaan Huygens.

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  1. J

    Centripetal Force & Gas Centrifuges

    Hi, I am studying circular motion at the moment and we were asked to go away and find an example of a device which has a very large centripetal acceleration. Initially I found a washing machine has up to about 300g but then I was looking at nuclear enrichment gas centrifuges which have huge...
  2. Physics345

    Does the label "centripetal force" ever appear in a FBD

    Homework Statement Does the label "centripetal force" ever appear in an FBD? Explain. Homework Equations None. The Attempt at a Solution No, centripetal force does not appear as a label on a FBD. Since it is not specific enough it does not tell us what the force is that’s keeping the object...
  3. P

    Effects of centripetal force on longer objects

    I have a question. What will happen if you have a long object let’s say a person was lassoed by their feet and spun around by a super strong machine or person. Since the persons head of who is being spun is moving at a much faster tangential velocity then let’s say their feet. If the rope is cut...
  4. L

    Need help explaining this Centripetal force problem

    Homework Statement Homework Equations T = mv^2/r Fc = mv^2/r The Attempt at a Solution I'm aware that at the bottom of this motion, that the tension force is greater than the weight. And that the tension force at the top is weaker so we added T + mg = mv^2/R. for th bottom, it's T-mg =...
  5. ferrariistheking

    Centripetal Force and circular motion

    Homework Statement Gravity causes a centripetal force that allows satellites to travel around planets. How fast must a 102-kg satellite travel to maintain a circular orbit 352 km above Earth's surface? Homework Equations F=m(v^2/r) -----> (F/m) x r= v^2, then square root F= force m=mass...
  6. M

    Shape of water in a rotating container along A vertical axis

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  7. Biochemgirl2002

    How do I draw a FBD for centripetal force

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  8. M

    Centripetal force throughout a vertical circle

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  9. P

    Question regarding centripetal force

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  10. L

    Centripetal Force / circular motion question

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  11. R

    Tangential and centripetal force

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  12. Richer Su

    Centripetal Force Homework: Effect of Increasing Mass on Revolutions

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  13. S

    Radius and centripetal relation

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  14. S

    I How fast do you need to cycle to simulate bicycle tire inflation

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  15. H

    Varying mass- finding centripetal force

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  16. H

    Finding experimental Centripetal force from F=4pi^2rM/T^2

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  17. A

    B What is the Net Force on a Banked Curve?

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  18. F

    Net Force and Centripetal Force relation

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  19. S

    Calculating Train Speed Using Centripetal Force | 15° Angle, 150m Radius

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  20. S

    Is the centripetal force a projection of tension?

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  21. K

    I Determine the force exerted by the seat on the child at the bottom of the ride

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  22. Nikhil Rajagopalan

    Is the Work Done by Static Friction Always Zero in a Round Trip?

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  23. N

    How can gravity be greater than the centripetal force?

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  24. C

    Doubt with rotating body and force

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  25. O

    Reaction force be 0 at top of circular path swing?

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  26. Bunny-chan

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  27. D

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  28. Ashton Herbert

    A question regarding the Centripetal force

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  29. J

    Rocket Engine: Centripetal Force to Vector thrust

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  30. J

    Centripetal Force Problem with Tension on an Unknown Planet

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  31. D

    B The movie wanted defies physic.

    In the movie wanted, the characters inside the movie can curve bullets by swinging the pistol, it is obvious it defies the law of physics. I know that a bullet cannot curve due to the law of motion, it is the same a sling (the thing that throw rocks) where the trajectory will always be a...
  32. C

    Centripetal Force and Radius

    Homework Statement My textbook states that, "Traveling in a circular path with a smaller radius of curvature requires a greater centripetal force". But my question is, why, and how is that true? I would have assumed at first that if the radius was getting shorter, then the centripetal force...
  33. Unteroffizier

    Centripetal Force - same thing as gravitational force?

    First off, I'd like to note that I am by no means a physics expert. I am merely a high school student and a physics/maths enthusiast, nothing more, so if my thoughts are completely dysfunctional and downright incorrect, which is more than a distinct possibility, please tell me. I recently took...
  34. T

    Force of Gravitation and Centripetal Force

    Homework Statement (a) The Earth may be considered to be a uniform sphere of radius 6.37 × 103 km with its mass of 5.98 × 1024 kg concentrated at its centre. The Earth spins on its axis with a period of 24.0 hours. (i) A stone of mass 2.50 kg rests on the Earth’s surface at the Equator. 1...
  35. Revengeance

    Centripetal force ball on a string lab

    Homework Statement So referring to this lab , http://static3.mbtfiles.co.uk/media/docs/newdocs/international_baccalaureate/physics/824297/html/images/image12.pngIn this lab you are holding the plastic tube and twirling it to make the small mass spin in a circle. Keep in mind there is a mass on...
  36. Mausam

    Understanding the Paradox of Centripetal Force in a Frictionless System

    If we have a frictionless hollow tube and a ball which just fits into it. All the surfaces are frictionless. Now if we put in the ball about at the center of tube and rotate the tube about one of its ends with a constant angular velocity ,then the ball swoops out of the other end . If we see...
  37. S

    Is centripetal force greater than centrifugal force?

    Why is resultant force directed towards the center of the circular path? Is it because centripetal force is greater than centrifugal force? If the centrifugal force is greater, then the ball will rise? (If the string doesn't snap)
  38. Rick16

    Confusion about centripetal force

    I have run into some serious confusion with a seemingly very simple problem: A car is going around a circular track, the road is banked, and there is no friction. For this case all texts state that the centripetal force is caused by the normal force, i. e. by the radial component of the normal...
  39. Robzoid

    Movement caused by Centripetal Force

    I've been thinking about centripetal force and circular motion. I know that an object experiencing circular motion has a velocity vector tangential to the circular path and an acceleration vector perpendicular to its motion, pointing towards the center of the circle. What I don't get is why...
  40. S

    Need help with a centripetal force question.

    Homework Statement Homework Equations f = mg N = mw^2R The Attempt at a Solution Is this method and answer correct? The answer in my solution sheet is different so I'm wondering where i went wrong
  41. K

    Reaction Force, Centripetal Force

    Does reaction force only occur when it is in contact with another object? And also if rollercoaster goes around in a circle, at the maxium height, why isn't there any reaction force (got this from a book). Personally, I think that rollercoaser have clamps attached between the path and the...
  42. A

    Centripetal Force, Friction, Loop de Loop, and Normal Forces

    Two questions I had: 1. How is the force of friction of the tires pointed inwards to cause centripetal acceleration? If the tire is rotated when trying to turn, the car is still traveling with a velocity perpendicular to the circle and force of friction would still be counteracting the...
  43. S

    Need help with a centripetal force question

    Homework Statement [/B] Homework Equations [/B] mv^2 / r = F The Attempt at a Solution This is my attempt and reasoning for this problem, is this the correct way to approach the problem or am i missing something?the hanging mass is motionless the tension in string equals the force of...
  44. T

    Centripetal Force and Pascal's Principle

    I am trying to reconcile what I understand about Pascals Law in Fluid Statics and Centripetal Force in Fluid Dynamics In fluid statics pressure always acts normal to the wall . The explanation I have seen https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/fluid-mechanics-and-perpendicular-force.733437/ Is...
  45. A

    Angular momentum and centripetal force

    Suppose you have a ball on a string, and you make the ball to move around in a circle. The force on the ball is caused by the tension of the string, and is called the centripetal force F = mv^2/r. If you were to let go at any moment, the ball would stop rotating and move with linear velocity...
  46. M

    Definition of centripetal force

    Homework Statement Hi, If an object is undergoing uniform circular motion, then the net force is acting perpendicular to the instantaneous velocity, and this is called the centripetal force. However, if the object is moving in a circle but the magnitude of its instantaneous velocity is not...
  47. V

    Circular Motion: What's the Source of Centripetal force in this?

    [Moderator's Note: Thread moved from forum General Physics hence no formatting template] I am trying to study Circular Motion for my exams and I'm kind of unsure about one question. The question asks what's keeping the truck in circular motion. It has to be gravity I know, but gravity being...
  48. Rupert Young

    What is the effect of centripetal force on velocity?

    If a car is being driven with a constant force (the angle of the pedal is kept constant) and it goes around a curve, will the velocity change? If so, is this due to centripetal force?
  49. T

    Tangential Velocity w/r to change in Centripetal force

    Hi I have a scenario with which I wish to understand . I have a ball on a string which is in uniform circular rotation at Tangential velocity v Assume friction is not present I now increase the centripetal force by pulling on the string from the centre, what has happened to the tangential...
  50. Christopher117C

    Centripetal Force of a linear spring

    I was given a question relating centripetal force to solve A linear spring of negligible mass requires a force of 18.0 N to cause its length to increase by 1.0 cm. A sphere of mass 75.0 g is attached to one end of the spring. The distance between the centre of the sphere M and the other end P of...
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