[Physics] Centripetal force of a rotating rigid body

centripetal-forceforcesnewtonian-mechanicsrotational-dynamics

Consider someone pushing a roundabout in a playground. Initially the
roundabout is stationary, but when it is pushed, it rotates with
increasing rotational speed.

The force of the push is balanced by the reaction force exerted by the
support at the centre of the roundabout. The forces are equal in
magnitude and opposite in direction, so the roundabout is in
translational equilibrium. But they have different lines of action, so
there is a resultant torque, causing the playground to rotate and have
angular momentum.

Okay, my question is, how about the centripetal force that exists whenever there is circular motion? Where does/would it come from?

Best Answer

In order to have a centripetal force, you must have mass that rotates around certain point. You should be more specific with your question, that is, you must tell us which mass is rotating and then we can tell you which centripetal force is responsible for that rotation.

Here is a more complete explanation on where does the centripetal force come from: Let's suppose we are standing in intertial frame of reference. As first Newton law states: if no force is exerted to a body, velocity of the body remains constant. Now what about rotating? In rotating velocity is not constant!

OK, velocity is vector, and it is possible that the body rotates in a way that the magnitude of the vector is constant. However, if the body is rotating, the direction of the vector of the velocity is changing! Therefore, some force must exert on the body, must force the body to rotate. It turns out that the force, that changes the direction of the vector of the velocity is directed toward the center of the rotation, and therefore we call that force centripetal force (petere in Latin means: to make for, tend to get to), i.e. force that tends toward center.

For specific explanation provide specific case.

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