physics

Centripetal Force

Mechanics & Motion - Related Topics

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Analog Electronics
8

Analog electronics is a branch of electronics that deals with continuous signals, as opposed to digital electronics, which deals with discrete sign...

Magnetostatics Definition Properties Differences
4051

In magnetostatics, boundary conditions are used to describe the behavior of magnetic fields at the interfaces between different materials. These co...

Aberration Of Lens
4054

Lens aberration is a phenomenon that occurs when light rays passing through a lens do not converge at a single point, resulting in a distorted or i...

Absorption Spectrum
4055

An absorption spectrum is a graph that shows the amount of light absorbed by a substance as a function of the wavelength of light. It is a characte...

AC Circuit
4056

An alternating current (AC) circuit is a circuit in which the current periodically reverses direction. This is in contrast to a direct current (DC)...

AC Motor
4057

An AC motor is an electric motor that converts alternating current (AC) into mechanical energy. AC motors are widely used in industrial and commerc...

Acceleration Time Graph
4058

An acceleration time graph is a graphical representation of the acceleration of an object over time. It is a useful tool for analyzing the motion o...

Acoustics
4059

Acoustics is the science that deals with the production, control, transmission, reception, and effects of sound. It is a branch of physics that stu...

Adiabatic Demagnetization
4060

Paramagnetic materials are a class of materials that exhibit a weak attraction to magnetic fields. This attraction is caused by the presence of unp...

Advanced Sunrise And Delayed Sunset
4061

The rising and setting of the sun are daily phenomena that mark the beginning and end of each day. While we generally think of these events as occu...

Ammeter
4062

An ammeter is a measuring instrument used to measure the strength of an electric current in amperes. It is a device that allows the user to determi...

Anemometer
4064

An anemometer is a device used to measure wind speed and direction. It is commonly used in meteorology, climatology, and other fields that require ...

Angular Acceleration
4065

Angular acceleration is the rate at which an object's angular velocity changes. It is measured in radians per second squared (rad/s²).

Dynamic Lift
4067

Dynamic lift is a phenomenon that occurs when an object moves through a fluid, such as air or water. It is the force that acts perpendicular to the...

Layers Of Sun
4067

The Sun, our closest star, is a hot ball of glowing gases that emits vast amounts of energy. It consists of several layers, each with its unique ch...

LCR Series Circuit
4068

An LCR series circuit is a circuit that consists of an inductor (L), a capacitor (C), and a resistor (R) connected in series. The current in an LCR...

Effects Of Radiation
4069

Radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles. It can be classified into two main types: ionizing and non-i...

Lemon Battery
4069

A lemon battery is a simple electrochemical cell that uses a lemon as the electrolyte. It is a fun and easy way to demonstrate the principles of el...

Limitations Of Ohms Law
4072

Ohm's law is a fundamental principle in electrical engineering and physics that describes the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance...

Power Factor
4074

Power factor is a measure of how efficiently electrical power is used in an alternating current (AC) circuit. It is defined as the ratio of the rea...

Power In Ac Circuit
4075

In an alternating current (AC) circuit containing a pure resistor, the current and voltage are in phase, meaning they reach their maximum and minim...

Power Transformers
4076

Power transformers are essential components of electrical power systems, enabling the efficient transmission and distribution of electricity. Their...

Pressure Gauge
4077

A pressure gauge is a device used to measure the pressure of a fluid (liquid or gas) or gas. It is typically used in industrial and commercial sett...

Pressure Of An Ideal Gas
4078

The ideal gas law is a fundamental equation in physics that describes the behavior of gases under various conditions. It provides a mathematical re...

Pressure
4079

Pressure is a physical quantity that measures the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area. It is a scalar quantity, m...

Principle Of Calorimetry
4080

A calorimeter is a device used to measure the amount of heat released or absorbed during a chemical reaction or physical change. It is an essential...

Electrolytic Capacitor
4081

Electrolytic capacitors are polarized capacitors that use an electrolytic solution as one of the plates. They are typically made of aluminum or tan...

Propagation Constant
4081

The propagation constant is a complex number that describes how a wave propagates through a medium. It is defined as the square root of the product...

Proton Mass
4083

The proton is a subatomic particle that is found in the nucleus of an atom. It is one of the three main types of subatomic particles, along with th...

Electron Spin
4084

Electron spin is a fundamental property of electrons, which is related to their intrinsic angular momentum. It is a vector quantity and can be eith...

Pulley System
4084

A pulley system is a mechanical device that consists of one or more pulleys and a rope or cable that runs through them. Pulleys are used to lift or...

Electronic Communication Systems
4085

A communication system is a collection of components that allows information to be transmitted from one place to another. In electronics, communica...

Pulse Width Modulation
4085

Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is a technique used to control the power delivered to a load by varying the width of the pulses of a periodic waveform...

Electroscope
4086

An electroscope is a simple device used to detect the presence and type of electric charge. It consists of a metal rod with a small, lightweight ob...

Quantization
4086

Quantization is a process of converting a continuous signal into a discrete signal. This is done by dividing the continuous signal into a finite nu...

Electrostatic Precipitator
4087

An electrostatic precipitator (ESP) is a device that removes particulate matter from a gas stream by applying an electrical charge to the particles...

Electrostatics
4088

In electrostatics, boundary conditions are the conditions that must be satisfied by the electric field and the electric potential at the boundaries...

Radiation Pressure
4089

Radiation pressure is the force exerted on an object by electromagnetic radiation. It is a real and measurable force, although it is usually very s...

Radiation
4090

Radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles. It can be classified into two types: ionizing and non-ionizing.

Radioactivity
4091

Radioactivity is the process by which unstable atoms lose energy by emitting radiation in the form of particles or electromagnetic waves. This proc...

Faraday Constant
4092

The Faraday constant, denoted by the symbol F, is a fundamental physical constant that relates the charge of one mole of electrons to the amount of...

Radius Of Gyration
4092

The radius of gyration is a measure of the distribution of mass within an object. It is defined as the distance from the object's center of mass to...

Ferromagnetism
4093

Ferromagnetic materials are a class of materials that exhibit strong magnetic properties due to the alignment of their atomic magnetic moments. The...

Raman Scattering
4093

Raman scattering is a spectroscopic technique used to study vibrational, rotational, and other low-frequency modes in a system. It is based on the ...

Rare Earth Magnets
4094

Rare earth magnets are a class of permanent magnets made from alloys of rare earth elements. They are the most powerful type of permanent magnet, a...

Force Between Multiple Charges
4095

The magnitude of the electrostatic force between two point charges is given by Coulomb's law:

Force
4096

Force is a physical quantity that describes an interaction that can change the motion of an object. It is measured in newtons (N) in the Internatio...

Reactance And Impedance
4096

Reactance and impedance are two important concepts in electrical engineering. They are used to describe the behavior of electrical circuits when al...

Rectifier
4097

A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC). The process of converting AC to DC is known as...

Friction
4098

Friction is the force that opposes the relative motion of two objects in contact. It is a fundamental force in nature that affects everything from ...

Frictional Force
4099

Frictional force is the force that opposes the relative motion of two objects in contact. It is a non-conservative force, meaning that the work don...

Galilean Transformation
4100

The Galilean transformation is a mathematical transformation that describes the relationship between the coordinates of an object in two different ...

Refractive Index
4100

The refractive index of a material is a measure of how much light bends when passing through it. It is defined as the ratio of the speed of light i...

Gauge
4101

A gauge is a type of meter that measures the magnitude of a physical quantity. Gauges are used in a wide variety of applications, including measuri...

Refrigeration
4101

Refrigeration is the process of removing heat from a substance or space, resulting in a lower temperature. It is used in a wide range of applicatio...

Geiger Counter
4102

A Geiger counter is a device used to detect and measure ionizing radiation, such as gamma rays and X-rays. It is named after the German physicist H...

Relation Between Amplitude And Frequency
4102

In physics, amplitude and frequency are two fundamental properties of a periodic wave. Amplitude refers to the maximum displacement of a wave from ...

Relation Between Bar And Atm
4103

Pressure is a physical quantity that measures the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area. It is a scalar quantity, m...

Hall Effect
4104

The Hall effect is the production of a voltage difference (the Hall voltage) across a conductor, usually a metal, when it is subjected to a magneti...

Relation Between Beta And Gamma Function
4104

The Beta function and the Gamma function are two closely related special functions that play a fundamental role in various areas of mathematics, st...

Halleys Comet
4105

Halley's Comet is a bright comet that orbits the Sun every 75 to 76 years. It is one of the most famous comets in history and has been observed by ...

Relation Between Critical Angle And Refractive Index
4105

The critical angle, also known as the limiting angle, is a crucial concept in the field of optics, particularly in the study of light refraction an...

Harmonic Oscillator
4106

A harmonic oscillator is a system that, when displaced from its equilibrium position, experiences a restoring force proportional to the displacemen...

Relation Between Escape Velocity And Orbital Velocity
4107

Escape velocity is the minimum speed an object needs to escape the gravitational pull of a massive body, such as a planet or moon. Once an object r...

Relation Between Kp And Kc
4108

In chemistry, $Kp$ refers to the equilibrium constant for a chemical reaction expressed in terms of partial pressures of the gaseous reactants and ...

Relation Between Newton And Dyne
4109

English mathematician and physicist who is widely credited as one of the most influential scientists of all time.

Humidity
4110

Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor present in the air. It is an essential component of the Earth's atmosphere and plays a crucial role in...

Relation Between Pressure And Density
4110

Pressure and density are two fundamental properties of matter that are closely related. Pressure is the force per unit area exerted by a substance,...

Huygens Principle
4111

Huygens' principle is a method for understanding how waves propagate. It was developed by the Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens in the 17th centur...

Relation Between Youngs Modulus And Bulk Modulus
4111

Young's modulus, also known as the modulus of elasticity, is a measure of the stiffness of a material. It is defined as the ratio of the stress (fo...

Relative Humidity
4112

Relative humidity (RH) is a measure of the amount of water vapor present in the air compared to the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold ...

Hydrostatic Pressure
4113

Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by a fluid at rest due to the force of gravity. It is a scalar quantity and is measured in pascals (Pa...

Resistivity
4113

Resistivity is a measure of how strongly a material opposes the flow of electric current. It is defined as the electrical resistance of a material ...

Hysteresis
4114

A hysteresis loop is a graphical representation of the relationship between the magnetic field strength (H) and the magnetization (M) of a material...

Resistor
4114

A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that implements electrical resistance as a circuit element. In electronic circuits, resis...

Infrared Radiation
4115

Infrared radiation (IR) is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is invisible to the human eye. It is located on the electromagnetic spectrum be...

Resolving Power
4115

Resolving power is the ability of an optical instrument to distinguish between two closely spaced objects. It is usually measured in terms of the m...

Integrated Circuit
4116

An integrated circuit (IC), also known as a chip or microchip, is a small electronic circuit made of semiconductor material that has been fabricate...

Resonance
4116

Resonance is a phenomenon that occurs when a system is subjected to a periodic force that matches its natural frequency of vibration. This causes t...

Reverberation
4117

Reverberation is the persistence of sound in a space after the sound source has stopped. It is caused by the reflection of sound waves off surfaces...

International Space Station
4118

The International Space Station (ISS) is a modular space station in low Earth orbit. It is a joint project of five participating space agencies: NA...

Rheostat
4118

A rheostat is a variable resistor used to control the flow of electric current. It consists of a resistive element, usually a wire, and a sliding c...

Ionizing Radiation
4119

Ionizing radiation is a type of high-energy radiation that has enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, resulting in the formati...

Satellite Communication
4119

Satellite communication is a type of wireless communication that uses satellites to relay signals between two or more points on Earth. It is used f...

Isothermal Process
4120

An isothermal process is a thermodynamic process in which the temperature of the system remains constant. This means that the internal energy of th...

Scintillation Counter
4120

A scintillation counter is a device used to detect and measure ionizing radiation. It consists of a scintillator, a photomultiplier tube (PMT), and...

James Webb Space Telescope
4121

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope under construction and development by NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Cana...

Seebeck Effect
4121

The Seebeck effect is the conversion of temperature differences directly into electrical energy. It is named after the German physicist Thomas Joha...

Junction Field Effect Transistor
4122

A Junction Field-Effect Transistor (JFET) is a type of field-effect transistor that uses a semiconductor junction to control the flow of current. J...

Seismograph
4122

A seismograph is a device that records the motion of the ground during an earthquake. The first seismographs were invented in China in the 2nd cent...

Junction Transistor
4123

A junction transistor is a semiconductor device that acts as an electronic switch or an amplifier. It is made of three layers of semiconductor mate...

Sharpness Of Resonance
4123

Resonance is a phenomenon that occurs when a system is subjected to a periodic force whose frequency is equal to or close to the system's natural f...

Shear Stress
4124

Shear stress is the force per unit area that acts parallel to the surface of a material and causes it to deform. It is expressed in units of pascal...

Kinetic Friction
4125

Kinetic friction is the force that opposes the motion of an object when it is in contact with another surface and moving relative to that surface. ...

Lambert Cosine Law
4126

Lambert's Cosine Law, also known as the cosine emission law, describes the relationship between the intensity of light emitted by a surface and the...

Sliding Friction
4126

Sliding friction is the force that opposes the relative motion of two solid surfaces in contact. It is a type of kinetic friction, which is the for...

Laplace Correction
4127

Laplace correction is a technique used in probability theory and statistics to adjust the probabilities of events in order to account for the fact ...

Solar Eclipse
4127

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, and the Moon's shadow falls on Earth's surface. Solar eclipses are rare even...

Laser Diode
4128

A laser diode is a semiconductor device that emits coherent light when an electric current is passed through it. Laser diodes are used in a wide va...

Solenoid Engine
4128

A solenoid is an electromechanical device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. It consists of a coil of wire wrapped around a me...

Laser
4129

A laser is a device that emits light through a process called stimulated emission. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation".

Solenoid
4129

A solenoid is an electromechanical device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. It consists of a coil of wire wrapped around a me...

Millikan Oil Drop Experiment
4130

The Millikan oil drop experiment was a series of experiments conducted by Robert Millikan and Harvey Fletcher between 1909 and 1913. The experiment...

Solid State Physics
4130

Solid-state physics is the study of the physical properties of solids, including their electronic structure, thermal properties, mechanical propert...

Sonication
4131

Sonification is the process of converting data into sound. This can be done for a variety of purposes, such as:

Moon
4132

The Moon is the fifth largest moon in the Solar System and the largest in our own. It is a natural satellite of Earth, orbiting it at an average di...

Sonometer
4132

A sonometer is a scientific instrument used to measure the frequency of sound waves. It consists of a stretched string, a fixed pulley, a movable p...

Motion In A Plane
4133

Motion in a plane is the movement of an object in two dimensions. It can be described by the object's position, velocity, and acceleration.

Murphys Law
4134

Murphy's Law is a popular adage that states that "anything that can go wrong, will go wrong." It is often used to describe the unexpected and often pessimistic nature of real-world situations.

Navier Stokes Equation
4135

The Navier-Stokes equations are a set of partial differential equations that describe the motion of viscous fluids. They are named after the French...

Special Theory Of Relativity
4135

The Special Theory of Relativity, proposed by Albert Einstein in 1905, is a fundamental theory in physics that describes the relationship between s...

Specific Gravity
4136

Specific gravity is a measure of the density of a substance relative to the density of water. It is defined as the ratio of the density of a substa...

Newtons Law Of Viscosity
4137

Viscosity is a property of fluids that describes their resistance to flow. It is caused by the interaction of the molecules in the fluid, which col...

Newtons Second Law Of Motion
4138

Newton's Second Law of Motion is a fundamental principle in classical mechanics that describes the relationship between an object's mass, accelerat...

Speed And Velocity
4138

Speed is a measure of how fast an object is moving. It is calculated by dividing the distance traveled by the time taken to travel that distance. S...

Newton's Third Law Of Motion
4139

Complete guide to Newton's third law including action-reaction pairs, applications, examples, rocket propulsion for NEET physics

Normal Force
4140

In physics, the normal force is the force exerted by a surface on an object in contact with it, perpendicular to the surface. It is also known as t...

Nuclear Force
4141

Nuclear force is the force that holds protons and neutrons together inside an atomic nucleus. It is one of the four fundamental forces in nature, a...

Optical Bench
4143

An optical bench is a stable platform used to hold and align optical components, such as lenses, mirrors, and prisms, in a precise and repeatable m...

Paramagnetism
4144

Paramagnetism is a form of magnetism that occurs when certain materials are exposed to an external magnetic field. These materials, known as parama...

Pendulum
4145

A pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely. When the pendulum is displaced from its equilibrium position, it will os...

Periscope
4146

Periscope is a live video streaming app that allows users to broadcast live video to their followers. It was launched in 2015 and was acquired by T...

Angular Momentum Of Electron
4152

In quantum mechanics, the angular momentum of an electron is a fundamental property that describes the electron's rotational motion. It is a vector...

Angular Velocity
4153

Angular velocity is a measure of how fast an object is rotating. It is defined as the rate of change of the angular displacement of an object with ...

Antimatter
4154

Antimatter is a type of matter that is composed of antiparticles, which are the opposite of their corresponding particles. For example, the antipar...

Average Speed
4155

Average speed is the total distance traveled divided by the total time taken to travel that distance. It is a measure of how fast an object is movi...

Avogadro Hypothesis
4156

Avogadro's Hypothesis states that under the same conditions of temperature and pressure, equal volumes of gases contain an equal number of molecule...

Balanced Force
4157

A balanced force occurs when the net force acting on an object is zero. This means that the forces acting on the object are equal in magnitude and ...

Ballistics
4158

Ballistics is the science of the motion of projectiles. It is a branch of physics that deals with the behavior of projectiles in flight, including ...

Band Theory Of Solids
4159

The band theory of solids is a fundamental concept in solid-state physics that describes the electronic structure of materials. It provides a frame...

Bar Magnet As An Equivalent Solenoid
4160

A bar magnet can be considered as an equivalent solenoid, which is a coil of wire that carries an electric current and creates a magnetic field. Th...

Barometer
4161

A barometer is a scientific instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure. It is a device that measures the weight of the air above a given point...

Bells Theorem
4162

Bell's theorem is a no-go theorem in quantum mechanics that states that no physical theory can reproduce all the predictions of quantum mechanics w...

Bernoullis Principle
4163

Bernoulli's principle is a fundamental principle in fluid dynamics that describes the relationship between fluid velocity, pressure, and height. It...

Bipolar Junction Transistor
4164

A bipolar junction transistor (BJT) is a three-terminal electronic device that acts as an amplifier or switch. It is made of semiconductor material...

Black Body Radiation
4165

Black body radiation refers to the electromagnetic radiation emitted by an ideal black body. A black body is a theoretical concept that absorbs all...

Boltzmann Constant
4166

The Boltzmann constant, denoted by the symbol $kB$, is a fundamental physical constant that relates the average kinetic energy of particles in a sy...

Braille
4167

Braille is a tactile writing and reading system used by blind and visually impaired people. It was invented by Louis Braille, a blind Frenchman, in...

Buoyant Force
4168

Buoyant force is an upward force exerted by a fluid that opposes the weight of a partially or fully immersed object. In other words, it is the upwa...

Calorimeter
4169

A calorimeter is a device used to measure the heat involved in a chemical reaction or physical change. It is typically made of metal and is insulat...

Centre Of Mass And Centre Of Gravity
4170

The centre of mass of an object is the point where all of its mass is evenly distributed. It is also known as the centroid or the geometric centre.

Charge Transfer
4173

Charge transfer is the movement of electrons from one atom or molecule to another. It is a fundamental process in chemistry and biology, and it pla...

Charging By Induction
4174

Induction charging is a method of wirelessly transferring electrical energy between two objects. It is based on the principle of electromagnetic in...

Cherenkov Radiation
4175

Cherenkov radiation is a unique and fascinating optical phenomenon that occurs when a charged particle moves through a medium at a speed greater th...

Circuit Breakers
4176

A circuit breaker is a protective device that automatically switches off an electrical circuit when the current exceeds a safe level. This prevents...

Circuit Components
4177

An electric circuit is a path that allows electricity to flow. It consists of a source of electrical energy, such as a battery, and a load, such as...

Clausius Statement
4178

The Clausius statement of the second law of thermodynamics is one of the fundamental principles of thermodynamics. It states that heat cannot spont...

Coherent Sources
4179

In physics, a coherent source is a source of waves that have a constant phase relationship with each other. This means that the waves from a cohere...

Collision
4180

Collisions occur when two or more objects come into contact with each other. There are different types of collisions, each with its own characteris...

Commutator
4181

A commutator is a mechanical device used in direct current (DC) motors and generators to reverse the direction of current flow in the armature wind...

Compound Microscope
4182

A compound microscope is a type of microscope that uses two or more lenses to produce a magnified image of a specimen. The objective lens, which is...

Concave Lens
4184

A concave lens, also known as a diverging lens, is a type of lens that causes light rays to diverge (spread out) after passing through it. Unlike a...

Conductor And Insulator
4185

Conductors and insulators are two important concepts in the field of electricity. Conductors are materials that allow electricity to flow through t...

Conservative Force
4187

A conservative force is a force that does work on an object that depends only on the initial and final positions of the object and not on the path ...

Constellations
4188

A constellation is a group of stars that form a recognizable pattern in the night sky. Constellations have been used for centuries by astronomers t...

Convex Mirror
4189

A convex mirror is a curved mirror with a reflecting surface that bulges outward. It is also known as a diverging mirror because it causes light ra...

Cyclic Process
4191

A cyclic process is a process that repeats itself over and over again. It is a closed loop, with no beginning or end. Cyclic processes are found in...

Cyclotron
4192

A cyclotron is a type of particle accelerator that uses a strong magnetic field to accelerate charged particles in a circular path. It was invented...

Davisson Germer Experiment
4193

The Davisson-Germer experiment was a landmark experiment in physics that demonstrated the wave-particle duality of matter. It was conducted by Clin...

DC Generator
4194

A DC generator is an electrical machine that converts mechanical energy into direct current (DC) electrical energy. It is based on the principle of...

Decibel
4195

A decibel (dB) is a unit of measurement used to express the relative intensity of a sound. It is a logarithmic unit, which means that it expresses ...

Delta Modulation
4196

Delta modulation (DM) is a simple form of analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) that uses a one-bit quantizer to represent the difference between the ...

Derivation Of Equation Of Motion
4197

The equation of motion is a fundamental concept in physics that describes the behavior of objects in motion. It provides a mathematical framework t...

Derivation Of Lorentz Transformation
4198

The Lorentz transformation is a mathematical transformation that describes how space and time are related in special relativity. It was developed b...

Derivation Of Potential Energy
4199

Complete guide to potential energy derivation including gravitational potential energy, elastic potential energy, chemical potential energy, formula for NEET physics

Derivation Of Prism Formula
4200

The prism formula is an equation that describes the angle of deviation of a light ray passing through a prism. It is given by:

Deuterium
4201

Deuterium is a naturally occurring isotope of hydrogen with a nucleus containing one proton and one neutron, making it twice as heavy as the most c...

Diamagnetism
4202

Diamagnetism is a form of magnetism that occurs in all materials, but it is usually very weak. It is caused by the orbital motion of electrons in r...

Difference Between Centre Of Gravity And Centroid
4206

The centre of gravity (CG), also known as the centre of mass, is the point where all the mass of an object is considered to be concentrated. It is ...

Difference Between Echo And Reverberation
4207

Sound waves are mechanical waves that travel through a medium, such as air, water, or solids. They are caused by the vibration of particles in the ...

Difference Between Emission And Absorption Spectra
4208

Atomic spectra are the characteristic patterns of electromagnetic radiation emitted or absorbed by atoms. They are caused by the transitions of ele...

Difference Between Kinetics And Kinematics
4210

Kinetics is the branch of physical chemistry that deals with the rates of chemical reactions. It is a fundamental science that has applications in ...

Difference Between Mirror And Lens
4211

A mirror is a reflective surface, usually made of glass with a metallic coating, that reflects light and images. Mirrors are used to see reflection...

Difference Between Real Image And Virtual Image
4212

A real image is an image that is formed by the convergence of light rays. It can be projected onto a surface, such as a screen or a wall. Real imag...

Difference Between RTD And Thermocouple
4213

RTD stands for Resistance Temperature Detector. It is a temperature sensor that uses the principle of resistance change with temperature to measure...

Difference Between Simple And Compound Microscope
4214

A simple microscope, also known as a magnifying glass, is a basic optical instrument that produces magnified images of small objects. It consists o...

Difference Between Solar Eclipse And Lunar Eclipse
4215

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, and the Moon's shadow falls on Earth. This can only happen during a new moon...

Differences Between Acceleration And Velocity
4217

In physics, motion is a fundamental concept that describes the change in position of an object over time. Two key concepts related to motion are ve...

Differences Between Enthalpy And Entropy
4218

Enthalpy is a thermodynamic property that measures the total energy of a system, including its internal energy and the energy associated with its p...

Diode As A Rectifier
4219

A diode is a two-terminal electronic component that allows current to flow in only one direction. This property makes diodes useful for a variety o...

Magnet
4368

A magnet is a material or object that produces a magnetic field. This magnetic field is invisible, but it can be detected by its effects on other m...

Manometer
4374

A manometer is a device used to measure pressure in a fluid, typically a gas or liquid. It consists of a vertical tube with one end open to the atm...

Mass Of Deuteron
4375

A deuteron is a stable isotope of hydrogen with a nucleus containing one proton and one neutron, bound together by the strong nuclear force. It is ...

Mean Free Path
4376

The mean free path of a particle is the average distance it travels before undergoing a collision with another particle. It is an important concept...

Permanent Magnet
4377

A permanent magnet is a material or object that produces its own magnetic field without the need for an electric current. The magnetic field of a p...

Perpetual Motion
4378

Perpetual motion is the idea of a machine that can operate indefinitely without an external energy source. This concept has fascinated inventors an...

Photon
4380

A photon is an elementary particle that is the quantum of light and all other forms of electromagnetic radiation. It is the basic unit of light and...

Photovoltaic Cell
4381

A photovoltaic (PV) cell, also known as a solar cell, is a device that converts light energy into electrical energy. The process of converting ligh...

Pin Diode
4383

A PIN diode is a type of semiconductor diode that has a wide, intrinsic semiconductor region between its p-type and n-type regions. This intrinsic ...

Plane Mirror
4384

A plane mirror is a flat, reflective surface that produces an image of an object by reflecting light rays. It is also known as a flat mirror or a l...

PN Junction Diode
4385

A PN junction diode is a semiconductor device that allows current to flow in one direction only. It is made by joining two pieces of semiconductor ...

Poissons Ratio
4386

Poisson's ratio is a measure of a material's tendency to deform in one direction when subjected to stress in another direction. It is defined as th...

Spherometer
4387

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What is Centripetal Force?

Centripetal force is the net force that acts on an object moving in a circular path, pulling it toward the center of the circle. It is directed toward the center of the circle and is necessary to keep the object moving in a circular path. Without centripetal force, the object would move in a straight line.

Understanding Centripetal Force

  • Centripetal force is a real force that acts on an object, even though it is not a contact force.
  • It is caused by the change in the object’s velocity as it moves in a circular path.
  • The greater the speed of the object, the greater the centripetal force required to keep it moving in a circle.
  • The smaller the radius of the circle, the greater the centripetal force required to keep the object moving in a circle.

Calculating Centripetal Force

The centripetal force required to keep an object moving in a circular path can be calculated using the following formula:

$$ F_c = mv^2/r $$

Where:

  • F$_c$ is the centripetal force in newtons (N)
  • m is the mass of the object in kilograms (kg)
  • v is the speed of the object in meters per second (m/s)
  • r is the radius of the circle in meters (m)

Centripetal force is a fundamental concept in physics that has many applications in everyday life. It is a real force that acts on objects moving in a circular path, pulling them toward the center of the circle.

Centripetal Force Examples

Centripetal force is the force that keeps an object moving in a circular path. It is directed towards the center of the circle. There are many examples of centripetal force in everyday life. Some of the most common examples include:

1. A car going around a curve

When a car goes around a curve, the centripetal force is provided by the friction between the tires and the road. The faster the car is going, the greater the centripetal force must be in order to keep the car from skidding off the road.

2. A person swinging a ball on a string

When a person swings a ball on a string, the centripetal force is provided by the tension in the string. The longer the string, the greater the centripetal force must be in order to keep the ball from flying off.

3. A planet orbiting the sun

The centripetal force that keeps a planet orbiting the sun is provided by the gravity of the sun. The more massive the sun, the greater the gravitational force and the faster the planet must orbit in order to maintain a stable orbit.

4. A satellite orbiting the Earth

The centripetal force that keeps a satellite orbiting the Earth is provided by the gravity of the Earth. The higher the satellite is above the Earth, the weaker the gravitational force and the slower the satellite must orbit in order to maintain a stable orbit.

5. A roller coaster going around a loop

The centripetal force that keeps a roller coaster going around a loop is provided by the track. The faster the roller coaster is going, the greater the centripetal force must be in order to keep the roller coaster from flying off the track.

These are just a few examples of centripetal force in everyday life. There are many other examples that can be found in nature and in technology.

Centripetal Force Formula

The centripetal force formula calculates the force required to keep an object moving in a circular path. It is given by:

$$F_c = mv^2/r$$

Where:

  • $F_c$ is the centripetal force in newtons (N)
  • $m$ is the mass of the object in kilograms (kg)
  • $v$ is the speed of the object in meters per second (m/s)
  • $r$ is the radius of the circular path in meters (m)
Understanding the Centripetal Force Formula

The centripetal force formula shows that the centripetal force is directly proportional to the square of the object’s speed and inversely proportional to the radius of the circular path. This means that the faster the object is moving or the smaller the radius of the circular path, the greater the centripetal force required to keep the object moving in a circular path.

Applications of the Centripetal Force Formula

The centripetal force formula is used in a variety of applications, including:

  • Designing roller coasters and other amusement park rides
  • Calculating the forces on satellites and other spacecraft
  • Determining the forces on objects in rotating machinery
  • Analyzing the motion of planets and other celestial bodies

The centripetal force formula is a fundamental principle of physics that has a wide range of applications in everyday life and in the fields of engineering, astronomy, and other scientific disciplines.

Centripetal Force Formula Derivation

The centripetal force is the force that keeps an object moving in a circular path. It is directed towards the center of the circle and is equal to the mass of the object times the square of its velocity divided by the radius of the circle.

Formula

$$F_c = mv^2/r$$

Where:

  • $F_c$ is the centripetal force in newtons (N)
  • $m$ is the mass of the object in kilograms (kg)
  • $v$ is the speed of the object in meters per second (m/s)
  • $r$ is the radius of the circle in meters (m)
Derivation

The centripetal force can be derived from Newton’s second law of motion, which states that the acceleration of an object is equal to the net force acting on the object divided by its mass.

In the case of an object moving in a circular path, the acceleration is directed towards the center of the circle and is equal to the square of the velocity divided by the radius of the circle.

Therefore, the net force acting on the object must also be directed towards the center of the circle and must be equal to the mass of the object times the square of its velocity divided by the radius of the circle.

This force is the centripetal force.

Example

A 1-kg object is moving in a circular path with a radius of 2 meters at a speed of 3 m/s. What is the centripetal force acting on the object?

$$F_c = mv^2/r$$

$$F_c = (1 kg)(3 m/s)^2/2 m$$

$$F_c = 4.5 N$$

Therefore, the centripetal force acting on the object is 4.5 N.

Unit of Centripetal Force

The unit of centripetal force is the newton (N), which is the standard unit of force in the International System of Units (SI).

Derivation of the Unit

The centripetal force required to keep an object moving in a circular path is given by the equation:

$$F_c = mv^2/r$$

Where:

  • $F_c$ is the centripetal force in newtons (N)
  • $m$ is the mass of the object in kilograms (kg)
  • $v$ is the speed of the object in meters per second (m/s)
  • $r$ is the radius of the circular path in meters (m)

From this equation, we can see that the unit of centripetal force is:

$$N = kg \cdot m/s^2$$

The newton is the standard unit of centripetal force and is used to measure the force required to keep an object moving in a circular path.

Direction of Centripetal Force

The centripetal force is the force that acts on an object moving in a circular path, pulling it towards the center of the circle. The direction of the centripetal force is always towards the center of the circle, regardless of the direction of the object’s motion.

Determining the Direction of Centripetal Force

To determine the direction of the centripetal force, you can use the following steps:

  1. Identify the center of the circular path.
  2. Draw a line from the object to the center of the circle.
  3. The centripetal force is directed along this line, towards the center of the circle.
Difference between Centripetal and Centrifugal Force

Centripetal and centrifugal forces are two forces that are often confused with each other. While they are both related to circular motion, they are actually quite different.

Centripetal Force

Centripetal force is the force that pulls an object towards the center of a circular path. It is always directed towards the center of the circle, and its magnitude is equal to the mass of the object times the square of its velocity divided by the radius of the circle.

$$F_c = mv^2/r$$

Where:

  • Fc is the centripetal force
  • m is the mass of the object
  • v is the velocity of the object
  • r is the radius of the circle

Centripetal force is necessary to keep an object moving in a circular path. Without centripetal force, the object would fly off in a straight line.

Centrifugal Force

Centrifugal force is the force that appears to push an object away from the center of a circular path. It is not a real force, but rather an inertial force. Inertial forces are forces that are caused by the acceleration of an object.

Centrifugal force is equal in magnitude to centripetal force, but it is directed away from the center of the circle.

$$F_c = -mv^2/r$$

Where:

  • Fc is the centrifugal force
  • m is the mass of the object
  • v is the velocity of the object
  • r is the radius of the circle

Centrifugal force is not necessary to keep an object moving in a circular path. In fact, it can actually make it more difficult to keep the object in a circular path.

Examples of Centripetal and Centrifugal Forces

Here are some examples of centripetal and centrifugal forces:

  • Centripetal force:
    • The force that pulls a planet towards the sun
    • The force that pulls a car around a curve
    • The force that pulls a ball on a string in a circular path
  • Centrifugal force:
    • The force that pushes a person out of a car when it makes a sharp turn
    • The force that pushes water out of a spinning bucket
    • The force that pushes mud off of a spinning tire

Centripetal and centrifugal forces are two important forces that are related to circular motion. Centripetal force is the force that pulls an object towards the center of a circular path, while centrifugal force is the force that appears to push an object away from the center of a circular path. Centripetal force is necessary to keep an object moving in a circular path, while centrifugal force is not.

Applications of Centripetal Force

Centripetal force is a force that acts on an object moving in a circular path, pulling it towards the center of the circle. It is a fundamental concept in physics and has numerous applications in various fields. Here are some notable applications of centripetal force:

1. Banking of Roads:

In order to ensure the safety of vehicles moving on curved roads, the outer edge of the road is elevated compared to the inner edge. This banking of roads creates a centripetal force that acts towards the center of the curve, counteracting the tendency of vehicles to skid outwards.

2. Vehicle Turns:

When a vehicle makes a turn, the centripetal force required to keep it moving in a circular path is provided by the friction between the tires and the road surface. The faster the vehicle is moving, the greater the centripetal force required, and hence the more friction is needed.

3. Amusement Park Rides:

Many amusement park rides, such as roller coasters and Ferris wheels, utilize centripetal force to create thrilling experiences. The tracks or structures of these rides are designed to generate the necessary centripetal force to keep passengers safely in place while experiencing twists, turns, and loops.

4. Satellites in Orbit:

Satellites orbiting the Earth are constantly subjected to centripetal force, which is provided by the gravitational pull of the Earth. This force keeps the satellites in their circular paths around the planet, allowing them to perform various functions such as communication, weather monitoring, and remote sensing.

5. Washing Machines and Spin Dryers:

Washing machines and spin dryers use centripetal force to extract water from clothes during the spin cycle. The spinning drum creates a strong centripetal force that pushes the water outwards, forcing it through the holes in the drum and leaving the clothes relatively dry.

6. Planetary Motion:

In the solar system, the planets revolve around the Sun due to the centripetal force exerted by the Sun’s gravitational pull. This force keeps the planets in their respective orbits, maintaining the stability and structure of the solar system.

7. Blood Flow in Curves:

When blood flows through curved sections of blood vessels, such as arteries and veins, centripetal force plays a role in maintaining the necessary pressure and preventing the blood from pooling or flowing outwards.

8. Sports and Athletics:

In various sports and athletic activities, centripetal force is crucial for achieving certain maneuvers. For example, in high jump and pole vault, athletes use centripetal force to clear the bar by converting horizontal velocity into vertical motion.

9. Centrifuges:

Centrifuges are devices that use high-speed rotation to separate substances based on their density. The centripetal force generated by the spinning motion causes denser particles to move outwards, while less dense particles remain closer to the center. This principle is applied in various fields, including laboratory analysis, medical diagnostics, and industrial processes.

10. Cyclones and Hurricanes:

Centripetal force plays a role in the formation and behavior of cyclones and hurricanes. The low-pressure system at the center of these storms creates a centripetal force that draws in surrounding air, resulting in the characteristic spiral patterns and strong winds associated with these weather phenomena.

These are just a few examples of the numerous applications of centripetal force in various aspects of science, engineering, and everyday life. Understanding and harnessing this fundamental force has enabled significant advancements in technology, transportation, and our understanding of the natural world.

Centripetal Force FAQs
What is centripetal force?

Centripetal force is the net force that acts on an object moving in a circular path, pulling it towards the center of the circle. It is a real force that is necessary to keep an object moving in a circular path.

What causes centripetal force?

Centripetal force is caused by the acceleration of the object towards the center of the circle. This acceleration is caused by the change in the object’s velocity as it moves around the circle.

What is the formula for centripetal force?

The formula for centripetal force is:

$$F_c = mv^2/r$$

Where:

  • $F_c$ is the centripetal force in Newtons (N)
  • $m$ is the mass of the object in kilograms (kg)
  • $v$ is the speed of the object in meters per second (m/s)
  • $r$ is the radius of the circle in meters (m)
What is the difference between centripetal force and centrifugal force?

Centripetal force is the net force that acts on an object moving in a circular path, pulling it towards the center of the circle. Centrifugal force is a fictitious force that appears to act on an object moving in a circular path, pushing it away from the center of the circle. Centrifugal force is not a real force, but it is a useful concept for understanding the motion of objects in circular paths.

Conclusion

Centripetal force is a fundamental concept in physics that is essential for understanding the motion of objects in circular paths. It is a real force that is necessary to keep an object moving in a circular path.