Question

State whether true or false: Centripetal force is the “real force”.

Answer 1

Hint: In this question we are asked to state whether the centripetal force is a real force or is it not. To answer this, we will be discussing the centripetal force. We will study the cause of centripetal force, the effects due to the applied centripetal force and its nature. While doing so, we will check if the given statement is true or false.
Formula used:
\[{{C}_{p}}=\dfrac{m{{v}^{2}}}{r}\]
Where,
M is the mass of the object, v is the tangential velocity of the object around axis, r is the distance of the object from the centre of the circular path
\[{{C}_{p}}\] is the centripetal force.

Complete answer:
Circular force is the force which acts on an object following the circular path. This force keeps the object in a circular path. Centripetal force is a vector quantity. The direction of the force is always towards the centre of the circular path as shown in the figure below. It is due to the acceleration of the object which is always towards the centre to maintain the speed of the object. The magnitude of the centripetal force depends on the mass of the object and the velocity of the object. It is inversely proportional to the distance of the object from the centre of the path. The motion of any planet or star around another star is an example of centripetal force.

This force can be calculated using the equation,
\[{{C}_{p}}=\dfrac{m{{v}^{2}}}{r}\]
The centripetal force is responsible for the object to be moving around the circular path. Without the centripetal force the object would continue to move in a straight line. Therefore, it can be said that centripetal force is the real force.
Therefore, the given statement is true.

Note:
Centripetal force and centrifugal force act on different planes. Centrifugal force is known as the force which is felt by an object moving in a curved path. This force acts in the outward direction away from the centre of mass. When an object in earth’s orbit is revolving around the planet, gravity is said to be the centripetal force.