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AQA Physics

Further mechanics and Thermal Physics icon

Periodic Motion

Circular motion

circular acceleration: a = v2/r

 

centripetal force: F = mv2/r (coming from Newton's second law)

 

There is not such thing as centrifugal force!

The centripetal force, is not a new force created when the object is rotating in a circular path. Rather, it is a force which we already have and now is acting as the Centripetal Force for the object.

examples: 

tension in the string for a bub at the end of a string being rotated. 

friction between tyres and road for a car in a roundabout

pull of gravity for a satellite in the orbit around the Earth

force from a magnetic field on a moving charge. 

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