Originally posted by Frank BurnsThe centripetal force is the external force required to make a body follow a circular path at constant speed. The force is directed inward, toward the center of the circle. Hence it is a force requirement, not a particular kind of force. Any force (gravitational, electromagnetic, etc.) can act as a centripetal force. The term centripetal force comes from the Latin words centrum ("center"π and petere ("tend towards", "strive for sth."π.
I thought he didn't spell it right either. It means seeking center.
We learned one.
The centripetal force always acts perpendicular to the direction of motion of the body. In the case of an object that moves along a circular arc with a changing speed, the net force on the body may be decomposed into a perpendicular component that changes the direction of motion (the centripetal force), and a parallel, or tangential component, that changes the speed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centripetal_force :p
Originally posted by mikelomCool, thanks mikelom.
The centripetal force is the external force required to make a body follow a circular path at constant speed. The force is directed inward, toward the center of the circle. Hence it is a force requirement, not a particular kind of force. Any force (gravitational, electromagnetic, etc.) can act as a centripetal force. The term centripetal force comes from the ...[text shortened]... onent, that changes the speed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centripetal_force :p
Wife: You always carry my photo in your briefcase to the office. Why?
Husband: When there is a problem, no matter how impossible, I look at your picture and the problem disappears.
Wife: You see how miraculous and powerful I am for you?
Husband: Yes, I see your picture and say to myself, "What other problem can there be greater than this one?"
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Son: Mom, when I was on the bus with Dad this morning, he told me to give up my seat to a lady.
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Mom: Well, you have done the right thing.
Son: But mom, I was sitting on daddy's lap! π