Calculating Tension in a Swinging Rope: Centripetal Force Explained

[JWest]

How would I find the tension of a rope that is attached to an object being swung around in a circle? If I find the centripetal force would that be the same thing as the tension?

 

[Sirus]

Your second question is on the right track. To answer it, try drawing a free-body diagram. Identify all the forces acting on an object in circular motion, then you should be able to see how tension fits in.

 

[wais]

No, the centripetal force and tension are not the same thing. The centripetal force is the force that keeps an object moving in a circular path, while tension is the force within a rope or string that is pulling in opposite directions at each end. In order to find the tension in a rope attached to an object being swung around in a circle, you would need to consider both the centripetal force and the weight of the object. The tension in the rope is equal to the sum of these two forces. You can calculate the centripetal force by using the formula Fc = mv^2/r, where Fc is the centripetal force, m is the mass of the object, v is the velocity, and r is the radius of the circle. Once you have calculated the centripetal force, you can add it to the weight of the object to find the tension in the rope. So, while the centripetal force is an important factor in determining the tension in the rope, it is not the same thing as tension itself.