Centripetal Force

Akarachai Nairiyasaj
Sathitkun Saisitti
Seen Wattanawaragorn
Ratthanan Layanun
Nannipat Sukprasert
Introduction
Circular motion is the motion of an object that moving
along the circumference of a circle. There are 2 kinds of the
motion : uniform and non-uniform. Uniform circular Motion is
when an object moving at a constant speed and the direction
of the velocity vector pointing same as the direction of the
objects direction; however non-uniform Motion occurs when
the velocity is not constant or moving in the vertical circular
motion. Also, the direction of velocity vector is changing due to
the centripetal acceleration. Centripetal acceleration is always
perpendicular to the path and point toward the center of the
circle, but before this type of acceleration is generated, there is
a force causing the object moving or stopping which called
Centripetal Force. This force is simply known as Force seeking
center, which means that it keeps object to move within the
orbiting system. In this experiment, we will see and observe
how the Centripetal force works and how to calculate the
Centripetal Force in each situation.
Objective
- To explain and calculate the Centripetal Force.
- To study how the Centripetal Force works and look like.
- To observe and comprehend the motion of the object when
moving in the circular path
- To understand how each variable in the formula have an effect
on each other.

Hypothesis
- When the object moving faster then it will require more force to
maintain the motion.
- When the radius of the circular path decreases then the force
will increase.
- When the rotational shaft of the centripetal force apparatus is
spinned while time passing, the velocity will decrease which
affects the centripetal force to decrease.
Materials
- 100 gram mass
- Centripetal force apparatus
- Labquest
Procedures
1. Put mass on both side of Centripetal force apparatus
2. Turn on the Labquest and set it to collect the data
3. Spin at the rotational shaft of the Centripetal force apparatus
4. Collect data
Data
Calculation (To show the relationship among mass, velocity, and
radius)
The chosen point on the graph that we choose to prove is when
velocity is 0.388 m/s at 0.8 sec with the force is equal to 0.21
N. And, when velocity is 0.268 m/s at 15 sec.
Firstly, from the Labquest, it doesnt give information of how
long the radius is, so we will use the formula of velocity to find
the value of radius.
Velocity = 0.388 m/s; Time = 0.8 s; F = 0.21 N; Mass = 0.1 kg.
mv 2
Fc = r
0.21

2
(0.1)(0.388)

r
Radius is approximately equal to 0.072 m.
Then, we will use the calculated radius to substitute in the
second set of data.
Velocity = 0.268 m/s; Mass = 0.1 kg ; radius = 0.0716 m;
Time = 15 sec
0.1
(0.268)
Fc Fc 0.1 N
2

Conclusion
The centripetal force can be calculated from the formula F c
2
mv
= . This formula indicates how mass, velocity, and radius
r
affect the centripetal force. Mass and velocity are directly
proportional to the force while radius is inversely proportional
to the centripetal force. According to the collected data, we will
see that when rotational shaft of the centripetal force
apparatus is spinned, the centripetal force is decreasing
steadily due to the shrinking velocity. Similarly, according to the
experiment, if the mass was heavier, it would affect on the
centripetal force to become higher in number. Finally, if the
radius became larger, the force would decrease. To sum up, the
centripetal force is a force that controls the object to follow the
curve path. The magnitude of the force depends on mass,
velocity, and radius of the path.

Source
https://www.vernier.com/products/lab-equipment/cfa/