|
Centripetal Force Requirement:
Circular motion requires an inward force. To travel along the curved path of a circle, there must be a force directed centripetally. Any object or thing could supply the force as long as it is directed toward the center of the circular path.
|
|
Forces are not mysterious or ghostly. A force is simply a push or pull exerted upon an object as a result of its interaction with another object. The eraser is moving in a horizontal circle and there must be another object pushing or pulling on it towards the center of the circle. Make an effort to picture the situation and then ask; What physical object is directly interacting with the eraser to push or pull it toward the center of the circle? If necessary, use the Game Plan section.
|
|
Often times, success in physics demands that you have the proper approach - a good game plan. When determining which type of forces supplies the centripetal force requirement, proceed through the list of forces and ask: Is this force present on the object? If yes, ask: In which direction does this force act? Answering these question demands that you understand each type of force. If necessary, use the Hot Link to navigate to a web page that describes each force on the list of force types.
|