Sentripetaalivoima

Sentripetaalivoima, often translated as centripetal force, is a physics term describing the force that acts on a body moving in a circular path and is directed towards the center around which the body is moving. This force is not a fundamental force of nature like gravity or electromagnetism, but rather a net force that results from other forces, such as tension, gravity, or friction, causing an object to deviate from a straight trajectory and follow a curved path.

The magnitude of the centripetal force is proportional to the mass of the object and the square of its velocity, and inversely proportional to the radius of the circular path. Mathematically, it is expressed by the formula F_c = mv^2/r, where F_c is the centripetal force, m is the mass of the object, v is its velocity, and r is the radius of the circular path. Without a centripetal force, an object in motion would continue in a straight line at a constant speed, according to Newton's first law of motion.

Examples of centripetal force in action include a ball swung on a string, where the tension in the string provides the centripetal force; a planet orbiting a star, where gravity acts as the centripetal force; and a car turning on a road, where friction between the tires and the road provides the necessary centripetal force. The direction of the centripetal force is always along the radius and points towards the center of the circle.