Question #e35d4
1 Answer
Jun 5, 2014
It is a resultant force perpendicular to an object's velocity at all times that is always directed toward the centre of a circle. It causes the object to move in a circular path.
The centripetal force,
Some examples of centripetal forces:
- A satellite orbiting the Earth.
F_c is provided by the gravitational attraction between the Earth and the satellite. - An aeroplane banking to turn.
F_c is provided by the horizontal component of the lift (e.g.Lsinθ ). - A roller coaster loop the loop.
F_c is provided by the resultant of the weight and normal reaction forces. At the bottom of the loopF_c = N–w , at the sidesF_c = N (w is tangential to the loop), at the topF_c = N+w .
The equation for centripetal acceleration:
The equation for Newton's Second Law for a mass that remains constant is: