Question #c9b31

1 Answer
Feb 24, 2017

# F = m v^2 / r#

Explanation:

For a particle moving at constant speed in a circle, the magnitude of its inward radial acceleration is #a = v^2/r#, which is clearly a constant value. Bt Newton's Second Law, the magnitude of the accelerating force (also inward radial) is therefor #F = m v^2 /r#, again a constant value.

Because this is of constant magnitude, over any time period or distance, it is also the magnitude of the average force on the particle in a half revolution.