Since centripetal force is the inward force required to keep an object moving with a constant speed in circular path and centrifugal force is the apparent force that pulls an object from its centre or axis of rotation.
So…is a satellite revolving around the earth kept on its orbit by both centripetal and centrifugal force? Or only centripetal force
As I was taught back in school that a satellite requires both centrifugal and centripetal force, but personally, I think it should only be centripetal force, since the satellite still revolves around the earth, so where does centrifugal force come in?. Because the only reason a satellite could be pulled from its axis of rotation is if maybe an asteroid were to hit it or some other reasons.
Best Answer
In the context of the currently accepted theory of gravity, General (theory of) Relativity, the answer is no force is required.
Consider the case of a ball forced into uniform circular motion due to a string. According to an accelerometer attached to the ball, there is a constant magnitude acceleration directed towards the center of the circular path; this is the centripetal acceleration required for uniform circular motion. The centripetal force responsible for the acceleration is from the tension in the string.
Now, consider an accelerometer attached to a ball in a circular orbit around the Earth. We might expect that the accelerometer on the ball reads the centripetal acceleration but, in fact, the accelerometer (ideally) reads zero! Evidently, there is no net force acting on the orbiting ball. Why then does the ball follow a circular path?
On the GR view, the ball is following an unaccelerated path (geodesic) in spacetime that is curved by the mass of the Earth (Spacetime tells matter how to move; matter tells spacetime how to curve).