Centripetal Force

Any motion in a curved path represents accelerated motion, and requires a force directed toward the center of curvature of the path. This force is called the centripetal force which means "center seeking" force. The force has the magnitude

The component of force acting on a body in curvilinear motion that is directed toward the center of curvature or axis of rotation. Centripetal force is necessary for an object to move with circular motion. Swinging a mass on a string requires string tension, and the mass will travel off in a tangential straight line if the string breaks. The centripetal acceleration can be derived for the case of circular motion since the curved path at any point can be extended to a circle the centripetal force is proportional to the square of the velocity, implying that a doubling of speed will require four times the centripetal force to keep the motion in a circle. If the centripetal force must be provided by friction alone on a curve, an increase in speed could lead to an unexpected skid if friction is insufficient. Whenever an object moves in a circular path we know the object is accelerating because the velocity is constantly changing direction. All accelerations are caused by net force acting on an object. In the case of an object moving in a circular path, the net force is a special force called the centripetal force .Centripetal is Latin for "center seeking". So a centripetal force is a center seeking force which means that the force is always directed toward the center of the circle. Without this force, an object will simply continue moving in straight line motion. Centripetal force keeps the planets in orbit. According to Newton's 1st law, all masses have inertia and would like to move at constant speed in a straight line. Earth wants to move straight but it is prevented from doing so due to the sun's gravity