Question

An object with a mass of 0.5 kilogram is swung by a string in a horizontal circle of radius 1 meter at a speed of 2 meters per second. as the speed of the object increases, the force needed to keep it in a circular path will

Answer 1

Answer;

The force needed to keep it in a circular motion will increase

Explanation;

• Centripetal force is the force that keeps an object or a body in a circular path while in circular motion.
• Centripetal force depends on the speed of the object and the radius of the circular path, together with the mass of the object in circular motion.
• Centripetal force increases with increase in mass of the object in circular motion and the velocity of the object. Centripetal force increases with decrease in the radius of the circular path.
• Centripetal force is given by mv²/r; where, m is the mass, r is the radius of the circular path and v is the velocity of the circular path; thus in this case it will be;

 = (0.5 × 2²)/1

  = 2 Newtons

Answer 2

By definition we have that the acceleration will be given by
 a = V ^ 2 / R
 Where
 V = speed
 R = Radio
 Substituting
 a = (2 ^ 2) / (1) = 4m / s ^ 2
 then, the force needed to keep it in a circular path will be
 f = m * a = (0.5) * (4) = 2N