AP Physics B: Centripetal Force and Gravity

In summary, centripetal force is a force that keeps an object moving in a circular path by pulling it towards the center of the circle. It is different from centrifugal force, which is an apparent outward force experienced by objects moving in a circular path. The required centripetal force is directly proportional to the square of the object's velocity and inversely proportional to its mass. In addition, gravity is a type of centripetal force that plays a crucial role in keeping objects in orbit around a larger mass.
  • #1
stonecoldgen
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0

Homework Statement


Two stars of mass m1 and m2 are in orbit around their center of mass. If 2m1=5m2, and their orbital period is 120Ms, calculate the mass of the larger star, given that the distance between their centers is 1400Gm.


Homework Equations


F=GmM/r2


The Attempt at a Solution


I don't even know what to put as mass of the centripod, i kneed serious help
 
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  • #2
What have you learned about two-body problems? Reduced mass? Kepler's Laws?
ehild
 

1. What is centripetal force?

Centripetal force is a force that acts on an object moving in a circular path, directed towards the center of the circle. It is responsible for keeping the object moving in a circular motion instead of flying off in a straight line.

2. How is centripetal force different from centrifugal force?

Centripetal force is the force that pulls an object towards the center of a circle, while centrifugal force is the apparent outward force that is experienced by an object moving in a circular path. Centrifugal force is not a real force, but rather a result of the object's inertia.

3. What is the relationship between centripetal force and velocity?

The centripetal force required to keep an object moving in a circular path is directly proportional to the square of the object's velocity. This means that as velocity increases, centripetal force also increases.

4. How does the mass of an object affect centripetal force?

The centripetal force required to keep an object moving in a circular path is inversely proportional to the mass of the object. This means that a heavier object will require less centripetal force than a lighter object to maintain the same velocity in a circular path.

5. How does gravity affect centripetal force?

Gravity is a type of centripetal force that acts on objects in orbit around a larger mass. It is responsible for keeping planets in their orbits around the sun and moons in their orbits around planets. The strength of the gravitational force is determined by the masses of the objects and the distance between them.

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