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centripetal force
/sˈɛntɹaɪptəl fˈoːɹs/
/sˈɛntɹaɪptəl fˈɔːs/
Centripetal force
01
the force that acts on an object moving in a circular path, directed toward the center of the circle or the axis of rotation, preventing the object from moving in a straight line
Examples
When you swing a ball attached to a string in a circular motion, the tension in the string acts as the centripetal force.
In planetary motion, the gravitational pull exerted by the sun on a planet acts as a centripetal force keeping the planet in orbit.
