Question

An object with a mass of `6 kg` is revolving around a point at a distance of `8 m`. If the object is making revolutions at a frequency of `5 Hz`, what is the centripetal force acting on the object?

Answer 1

The centripetal force is given by `F=momega^2r` and is `4800pi^2` `N` or `47,374` `N`

Explanation:

The centripetal acceleration is given by:

`a=omega^2r`

Where:

`r` is the radius `(m)`
`omega` is the rotational speed `(rads^-1)`

we were given the rotational frequency in `Hz` (cycles per second), and there are `2pi` radians in a cycle, so to find the rotational speed multiply `5` `Hz` by `2pi` to give `10pi` `rads^-1`.

Using Newton's Second Law , the centripetal force will be `m` times the centripetal acceleration.

`F = ma = momega^2r = 6*(10pi)^2*8 = 4800pi^2 N = 47,374 N`