Question

1. The centripetal force acting on an object undergoing uniform circular motion is the net force acting on the object. In this experiment, the centripetal force is due to tension in the string. In other scenarios, what forces can provide the centripetal force? Describe at least two scenarios of uniform circular motion and name the centripetal force in each. The best answers will be different from the ones given in the Introduction.

Answer 1

centripetal force is not a new kind of force, already existing forces (like electrostatic force, gravitational force, magnetic force etc. ) can act as centripetal force for example:

1)

the earth moves around the sun. The gravitational force provides the necessary centripetal force required to keep earth in motion around the sun.

2)

Now suppose a charged particle (say, proton) is projected in a magnetic field such that the velocity of particle is perpendicular to the magnetic field, then the particle will start moving in circular motion. the necessary centripetal force is provided by the magnetic force acting on the moving particle in the magnetic field.