10.0 Centripetal force

It is a force that makes a body follow a curved path.

It is always directed towards the center of rotation with magnitude $\left( {\frac{{m{v^2}}}{r}} \right)$, where $v$ is the tangential speed of the body, $r$ is the radius of the circular path and $m$ is the mass of the body.

The velocity $v$ is always perpendicular with the centripetal force.

Therefore, centripetal force is the net force acting on a body undergoing circular motion towards the center of rotation.

So, here tension $T$ of a rope is providing the necessary centripetal force.

When we observe a circular motion from a rotating frame of reference (non-inertial frame of reference), pseudo force comes into play. This force is known as centrifugal force.

Centrifugal force and centrifugal force is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.

We will study centripetal and centrifugal force in more details in the chapter of circular motion.