Question

What is a centripetal force?

Answer 1

1. Centripetal force is the force acting on an object in curvilinear motion directed towards the axis of rotation or center of curvature.
2. When an object which moves in a circular path experiences a force acting radially inwards called centripetal force.
3. The force is directed inward toward the rotational axis.
4. The mathematical form of centripetal force is:
   $\mathrm{F}=\frac{{\mathrm{mv}}^2}{\mathrm{r}}$
   Where, $\mathrm{F}$ is the Centripetal force, $\mathrm{m}$ is the mass of the object, $\mathrm{v}$ is the speed or velocity of the object and $\mathrm{r}$ is the radius.
5. The SI unit of centripetal force is $\mathrm{Newton}\left(\mathrm{N}\right)$
6. The centripetal force is observed from an inertial frame of reference.