Examples of Centripetal Force
- When a metal bob tied to one end of a string is whirled around a circle the tension in the string is centripetal force. If the hold at the Centre is released, the bob flies away tangentially.
- For the motion of the moon or a satellite around the earth, the gravitational force provides the centripetal force.
- We know that the electrons revolve around the nucleus in nearly circular orbits. The electrostatic force between the electrons and the nucleus provides the centripetal force.
- When a pendulum is pulled away from its equilibrium position and is pushed tangentially, it moves along a circle. The horizontal component of tension T provides the centripetal force.
- For an Earth-satellite in a circular orbit, the centri- petal force is the gravitational force exerted by the Earth on the satellite.
- In the Bohr atom, the centripetal force on an elec- tron in circular orbit around the nucleus is the attractive Coulomb force of the nucleus.
- When an object tied at the end of a string is revolved in a horizontal circle, the centripetal force is the tension in the string.
- When a car takes a turn in a circular arc on a horizontal road with constant speed, the force of static friction between the car tyres and road surface is the centripetal force.
Centripetal Force Formula with Examples
Centripetal force is a force that operates on a body travelling in a circular direction and is directed towards the centre around which the body is moving. When an item moves at a constant speed around a circular route, it encounters an accelerating centripetal force towards the centre.