Question

A car is moving on a circular track of radius $r.$ If it doubles its speed, the centripetal force

• A. remains the same
• B. becomes two times
• C. becomes four times
• D. becomes sixteen times

Answer 1

The correct option is C

becomes four times

Centripetal force is a force which acts on a body moving in a circular path and is directed towards the centre around which the body is moving. The mathematical expression of centripetal force is given as $F=\frac{\text{mass of body}\times {\text{(velocity of body)}}^2}{\text{radius of circle}}$. The mass of body and radius of circle being constant, hence, centripetal force is direclty proportional to square of velocity of body. Therefore, centripetal force increases with increase in speed and if speed is doubled it becomes four times as it is direclty proportional to square of velocity of body.