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Describe the applications of centripetal force

Describe the applications of centripetal force.

Answers

1. The conical pendulum

It consists of a small massive object tied to the end of a thin string tied to affixed rigid support. The object is then pulled at an angle then made to whirl in a horizontal circle.

When speed of the object is constant the angle ${\theta}$ becomes constant also. If the speed is increased the angle ${\theta}$ increases, that is the object rises and describes a circle of bigger radius. Therefore as the angular velocity increases ‘r’ also increases.

2. The centrifuge

It consists of a small metal container tubes which can be electrically or manually rotated in a circle. If we consider two particles of different masses m1 and m2 each of them requires a centripetal force to keep it in circular motion, the more massive particle require a greater force and so a greater radius and therefore it moves to the bottom of the tube.

This method is used to separate solids and liquids faster than using a filter paper.

3. Banked tracks

As a vehicle moves round a bend, the centripetal force is provided by the sideways friction between the tyres and the surface, that is;
Centripetal force = mv²/r = frictional force
To enable a vehicle to turn along a bend at high speed the road is raised on the outer edge to attain a saucer-like shape and this is known as banking, where part of the centripetal force necessary to keep the vehicle on track is provided by the weight of the vehicle. This allows cars to negotiate bends at critical speeds.

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Mutiso answered the question on October 16, 2018 at 06:06

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