Is Centripetal Force the Only Force in Space-Based Circular Motion?

[shyboyswin]

I'm doing a lab, and I need to determine the centripetal force of a ball tethered to a string, rotating around at a constant acceleration horizontally. In this instance, is the only force in the problem the centripetal force, in which case would also be the net force, or is there also a normal force pushing in the opposite direction from the center? Assume this is done in space and gravity does not play any role, etc.

 

[Delphi51]

Yes, centripetal force is the only force if you are in space with no gravity.

If it is the lab I remember where you measure the tension in the string to deduce the centripetal force formula, gravity does play an important role. Fg causes the ball to angle downward from horizontal and you work with both horizontal and vertical forces to figure it all out.

 

[thomate1]

In this scenario, the centripetal force is indeed the net force acting on the ball. This is because, according to Newton's Second Law, the net force on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration. In this case, the ball is moving in a circular motion at a constant acceleration, which means that there must be a net force acting on it to maintain that motion.

The centripetal force is the force that is responsible for keeping the ball moving in a circular path. It is always directed towards the center of the circle and is provided by the tension in the string. This force is necessary to counteract the natural tendency of the ball to continue moving in a straight line, as dictated by Newton's First Law.

In this specific situation, there is no normal force acting on the ball, as there is no surface for the ball to push against. Therefore, the centripetal force is the only force acting on the ball and is also the net force. This is true regardless of whether the experiment is conducted in space or on Earth, as gravity does not play a role in the calculation of centripetal force.

In summary, the centripetal force is both the net force and the only force acting on the ball in this scenario. It is responsible for maintaining the ball's circular motion and is provided by the tension in the string.