Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
A centripetal force (from Latin centrum, "center" and petere, "to seek" [1]) is a force that makes a body follow a curved path.The direction of the centripetal force is always orthogonal to the motion of the body and towards the fixed point of the instantaneous center of curvature of the path.
This acceleration is known as centripetal acceleration. For a path of radius r , when an angle θ is swept out, the distance traveled on the periphery of the orbit is s = rθ . Therefore, the speed of travel around the orbit is v = r d θ d t = r ω , {\displaystyle v=r{\frac {d\theta }{dt}}=r\omega ,} where the angular rate of rotation is ω .
In a nonuniform circular motion, i.e., the speed along the curved path is changing, the acceleration has a non-zero component tangential to the curve, and is not confined to the principal normal, which directs to the center of the osculating circle, that determines the radius for the centripetal acceleration.
For a body moving in a circle of radius at a constant speed , its acceleration has a magnitude = and is directed toward the center of the circle. [ note 9 ] The force required to sustain this acceleration, called the centripetal force , is therefore also directed toward the center of the circle and has magnitude m v 2 / r {\displaystyle mv^{2}/r} .
The whole path is continuous, and its pieces are smooth. Now assume a point particle moves with constant speed along this path, so its tangential acceleration is zero. The centripetal acceleration given by v 2 / r is normal to the arc and inward.
Upper panel: Ball on a banked circular track moving with constant speed ; Lower panel: Forces on the ball.The resultant or net force on the ball found by vector addition of the normal force exerted by the road and vertical force due to gravity must equal the required force for centripetal acceleration dictated by the need to travel a circular path.
Transverse acceleration (perpendicular to velocity) causes a change in direction. If it is constant in magnitude and changing in direction with the velocity, circular motion ensues. Taking two derivatives of the particle's coordinates concerning time gives the centripetal acceleration
When considered in an inertial frame (that is to say, one that is not rotating with the Earth), the non-zero acceleration means that force of gravity will not balance with the force from the spring. In order to have a net centripetal force, the magnitude of the restoring force of the spring must be less than the magnitude of force of gravity.