When a particle moves in a circular path, it requires a force directed towards the center of the circle to maintain its motion. This is the centripetal force. Without centripetal force, the particle would move off in a tangent.
- Centripetal force ensures continuous circular motion.
- For objects in circular motion, centripetal force is often provided by tension, gravity, or friction.
In our case with the string and the particle, the centripetal force is provided by the tension in the string. This means that as the string pulls the particle inwards, it acts as the centripetal force ensuring that the particle maintains its circular path.
The formula for centripetal force is given by where:
- is the mass of the particle,
- is the linear velocity of the particle, and
- is the radius of the circle.
Thus, in the context of our problem, the tension in the string () acts to pull the particle towards the center, fulfilling the role of the centripetal force.