Centripetal force
What Centripetal force means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of Centripetal force
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Reference: OCR
The magnetic force on a charge moving at right angles to a uniform field is perpendicular to velocity and acts as the centripetal force needed for circular motion.
The resultant force that keeps a body moving in a circular path, acting towards the centre of the circle and perpendicular to the body's velocity.
The name given to the constant net force perpendicular to the velocity that points towards the centre of the circle.
A resultant force acting towards the centre, with magnitude F = mv²/r, required by Newton's second law.
Topics that use Centripetal force
- Circular motion (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
- Centripetal force (OCR A-Level)
- Motion of charged particles (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- Centripetal acceleration
- Vector nature of velocity and acceleration
- Constant speed under a perpendicular force
- Difference between speed and velocity
- Independence of selected speed from charge and mass
- Newton's first law and inertia
- Relationship between linear and angular quantities
- Rigid-body rotation
Using Centripetal force in the exam
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