Understanding the Paradox of Centripetal Force in a Frictionless System

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the paradox of centripetal force in a frictionless system, specifically involving a ball inside a hollow tube that is rotated about one of its ends. Participants explore the implications of Newton's first law in this context, questioning how the ball's motion can be explained without an inward radial force.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes a scenario where a ball in a frictionless tube is rotated, leading to the ball exiting the tube without an apparent radial force acting on it.
  • Another participant reiterates the necessity of a force to change the state of motion, noting that the acceleration is tangential and not constant in direction from the ground frame.
  • A further contribution expands on the idea that the tangential acceleration leads to a velocity that will eventually have a radial component as the directions change.
  • Another participant emphasizes that the absence of an inward force results in the ball moving outward, as it attempts to follow a straight line, akin to moving along a tangent to a circle.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the application of Newton's first law and the implications of the absence of a radial force, but there are competing interpretations regarding the nature of the motion and the forces involved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve the underlying assumptions about the nature of forces in a rotating frame versus an inertial frame, nor does it clarify the mathematical treatment of the forces at play.

Mausam
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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 from the ground frame then no radial force is acting as friction is absent,then how can we explain the motion of the ball.According to Newton's first law we need a force to change the state of motion.

How do we explain this
 
Last edited:
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Mausam said:
According to Newton's first law we need a force to change the state of motion.
Yes, the acceleration will be tangential only (perpendicular to the tube axis), which is not a constant direction in the ground frame.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
To expand a bit on what @A.T. has said, the acceleration which is applied now and is tangential now results in a velocity which is tangential now but which is retained and will have a radial component a moment from now when the "radial" and "tangential" directions change.
 
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hello mausam
Mausam said:
According to Newton's first law we need a force to change the state of motion.
exactly , very reason why the ball pops out , cause there's no force acting inwards to keep its radius const.
ball tries tries to move in one line . think of tangent to a circle , as you move along tangent,you move further away from circle centre
 

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