Centripetal Force

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Questions and Answers

A car is moving around a circular track. Which of the following forces provides the centripetal force necessary for the car to maintain its circular path?

The gravitational force acting on the car
The normal force exerted by the road on the car
The centrifugal force acting on the car
The frictional force between the tires and the road (correct)

A satellite orbits the Earth in a circular path. If the satellite's orbital radius were to increase, what would happen to the centripetal force required to maintain the orbit, assuming the satellite's mass and speed remain constant?

The centripetal force would decrease. (correct)
The centripetal force would remain the same.
The centripetal force would increase.
The centripetal force would become zero.

A ball is attached to a string and swung in a horizontal circle at a constant speed. Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between the ball's velocity and the centripetal force acting on it?

The centripetal force is zero because the ball's speed is constant.
The centripetal force is anti-parallel to the velocity, causing the ball to slow down.
The centripetal force is parallel to the velocity, causing the ball to speed up.
The centripetal force is perpendicular to the velocity, changing the ball's direction but not its speed. (correct)

A race car is designed to navigate a circular track at high speeds. What is the primary engineering consideration related to centripetal force that engineers must address to prevent the car from skidding off the track?

Ensuring the tires can provide sufficient friction to generate the necessary centripetal force. (C) Signup and view all the answers

An object is moving in a circular path with a constant speed. Which quantity associated with the object is NOT constant?

Velocity (B) Signup and view all the answers

A roller coaster car is at the top of a loop-the-loop. What combination of forces must be present for the car to safely complete the loop without falling off the track?

The combined gravity and normal force exerted by the track must provide sufficient centripetal force. (A) Signup and view all the answers

A student claims that centrifugal force is the reaction force to centripetal force, acting on the object moving in a circle. Which of the following statements correctly evaluates the student's claim?

The student is incorrect; centrifugal force is a fictitious force that arises from the rotating frame of reference, and the reaction to centripetal force acts on the object providing the centripetal force. (A) Signup and view all the answers

An engineer is designing a rotating space station to simulate gravity. How does the concept of centripetal force apply to this design?

Centripetal force pushes objects outwards, creating a force similar to gravity on the outer edge of the station. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Object A moves in a circle of radius $r$ at a constant speed $v$. Object B moves in a circle of radius $2r$ at a constant speed $2v$. What is the ratio of the centripetal force acting on Object A to the centripetal force acting on Object B?

1:1 (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the critical difference between centripetal force and centrifugal force?

Centripetal force is a real force that causes circular motion, while centrifugal force is a fictitious force observed in a rotating frame of reference (B) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Centripetal Force

Net force that keeps an object moving along a circular path, directed towards the circle's center.

Centripetal Force Formula

Fc = mv²/r, where Fc is centripetal force, m is mass, v is speed, and r is the radius of the circular path.

Characteristics of Centripetal Force

It's always directed towards the center, changes the object's direction, and is not a fundamental force.