centrípeta

Centripeta refers to a 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 essential for maintaining circular motion; without it, the object would move in a straight line tangential to its circular path due to inertia. The magnitude of the centripetal force is determined by the mass of the object, its velocity, and the radius of the circular path. The formula for centripetal force (Fc) is Fc = mv²/r, where 'm' is the mass, 'v' is the velocity, and 'r' is the radius.

Common examples of centripetal forces include the gravitational pull of the Earth on the Moon, which keeps the Moon in orbit, and the tension in a string when swinging a mass in a circle. In the case of the Moon's orbit, gravity acts as the centripetal force. When a car turns a corner, friction between the tires and the road provides the necessary centripetal force. Understanding centripetal force is fundamental to analyzing the motion of objects in circular or curved paths across various fields of physics and engineering.