What direction force would be necessary to keep an object moving in uniform circular motion?

What direction force would be necessary to keep an object moving in uniform circular motion counterclockwise?



Tangent to the circle counterclockwise

Tanget to the circle clockwise

Radially inward

Radially outward

No force is necessary.



Well I thought it was related to how acceleration always point toward the center of the circle in centripedal motion. I thin it's radially inward, but I'm hesitant since I don't know the reason why?What direction force would be necessary to keep an object moving in uniform circular motion?The centripetal force is needed to keep an object in a uniform circle. You have heard of centrifugal force right, that is the force that pulls a mass outward. The centripetal force is the reaction force (usually the force tension in the element holding the mass, usually a string) pulling the mass towards the center.What direction force would be necessary to keep an object moving in uniform circular motion?radially outward....

the forces balance each other to give net force zero

also work done is zero since cos 90 = 0



note: the rotation is being done in space ... so no gravitational or drag force is presentWhat direction force would be necessary to keep an object moving in uniform circular motion?Your thought process is correct.

Centripetal acceleration is what is holding the object in uniform circular motion. That acceleration must come from an applied force toward the center (radially inward).



Imagine swinging a stone on a string. While it feels as if the tension in the string is pulling radially outward, the stone is feeling that same tension pulling radially INWARD.





I'm sure you've also heard of "centrifugal force" which pushes radially outward, and may have heard it called an "imaginary" force. That force is no more "imaginary" than the force that seems to press you backwards into the seat in an accelerating car, but the actual force is pushing you forward. There is no force pulling you backward, it is just your own inertia trying to keep you moving at a constant speed in a straight line, while the car is applying a forward force. It only feels "backward" from your accelerating frame of reference.