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Experimental study of the centripetal force

Article  in  Physics Education · January 2007

DOI: 10.1088/0031-9120/42/1/006

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FEATURES
www.iop.org/journals/physed

Experimental study of the

centripetal force
Carlos A F Pintão, Moacir P de Souza Filho,
Wesley Fernando Usida and Maycon Motta
Department of Physics, UNESP—Bauru, C Postal 473, 17033-360, Bauru, SP, Brazil

E-mail: fonzar@fc.unesp.br

Abstract
We describe an experimental set-up for studying and determining the
centripetal force acting on a body whose mass and radius of circular
trajectory are known. The experimental behaviour is determined and
compared with theoretical predictions by using a system that allows for the
evaluation of the angular velocity by means of electric current measurements,
and by assuming a potential dependence of the force on the body mass,
radius and angular velocity.

Introduction experimentally sophisticated [1–4, 6, 7] and others

In the study of body rotation dynamics, inertia has
always been of scientific interest, together with
what causes a body to describe a uniform circular
motion (UCM), i.e., centripetal force [1–7]. ‘The
founders of classical mechanics in the seventh
century had considerable difficulty when dealing
with motion in a circle’, according to John
Rochel [8] and the teaching of centripetal force
requires a complete knowledge of Newton’s laws
of motion. When an object tied to a string attached
to an axis in a circle is spun above someone’s
head whilst keeping a constant rotating speed, their
hand feels a ‘pull’ or force. This effect, called the
centripetal force, acts on the object, maintaining
its circular motion. The centripetal force also
depends on the mass of the object, the radius of its
circular trajectory and the speed at which it moves.
Walters [9] described a simple device which
illustrates this. Other authors [10–12] modified
and added improvements to the equipment [1–5]
used in the study of centripetal force. Using
these traditional methods, some of which are
rather simple [5], we studied the centripetal force
by verifying its relationship to mass, radius and
angular velocity. In this paper, we have gone
further by proposing a method that makes it
possible to determine these quantities and, in
addition, how they are related to each other and
to centripetal force itself by using a system that
allows for direct measurements of the electric
current. This procedure was first used for
measuring the moment of inertia of a disc and
later that of a plate (by Pintão et al) [13–15].
An original method was used for measuring
capacitance [16, 17] and, on the basis of the
reading of an electric current, the angular velocity
instantly attained by the body was determined.
We discuss how it is possible to study the
dependence of a body’s centripetal force on its
mass, the radius of its circular trajectory and its
angular velocity by means of an electric current.
The exponents (assuming a potential dependence)
are determined and compared with theoretical
values.

56 PHYSICS EDUCATION 42 (1) 0031-9120/07/010056+06$30.00 © 2007 IOP Publishing Ltd


Figure 1. Experimental setup by using a commercial
device by Pasco, model ME 8950. Legend: C—viewing
cylinder; E—dynamometer; F—adjustable screw;
G—adjustable reference surface; H—spring; I—rule;
J—optoelectronic sensor; K—CD; L—mass M ;
N—speed regulator; P—motor with pulley;
Q—circuit RC ; S—current meter; T—source (V ).
Materials and methods
By using a commercial device (figure 1) to study
the centripetal force (FC ), we found we were able
to modify the way the experiment was carried out
in [18]. For this we used a measuring system
described in [13–15], which obtains the angular
velocity (ω) for an object describing a circle
in UCM from the measurement of an electric
current (i ). The angular velocity can be measured
indirectly by using the so-called Fleming and
Clinton method [17]. The strategy used in the
experiment to replace the measurement of angular
frequency by the electric current is described
below.
When the charging and discharging opera-
tions in an RC circuit are executed at intervals
about ten times larger than the time constant ( RC )
of the circuit, the capacitance, C , can be written as
C = i / f V , where i is the current recorded in an
analogue current measurement, f is the frequency
of commutation and V is the applied voltage in
the capacitor. Moreover, when the parameter to be
found is the frequency, the same set-up and expres-
sion can be used. This frequency of commutation
can be related to the body’s angular velocity, ω.
For this purpose, a compact disc (CD) was coupled
to the shaft and equally divided into 24 sections.
We covered 12 of these sections with an opaque
sheet, so that the CD coupled alternately both the
opaque and mirrored surfaces as it rotated. Next,
January 2007
Experimental study of the centripetal force
an optoelectronic sensor (infrared emitter and re-
ceptor), which distinguishes the nature of a sur-
face by reflection, was mounted facing the surface
of the CD (see figure 1). In the experiment, the
body’s rotational frequency is fixed at 1/12 of the
commutation frequency, f . For this purpose, since
the angular speed, ω, of the body can be written as
ω = 2π f /12 = π f /6 and f = i /CV , we have
π
ω= i = ki, (1)
6CV
π
in which k = 6CV .
The well-known relationship between the
resulting force, FC , that causes a body to describe
a UCM and the mass, M , radius of the circular
trajectory, R , and linear, v , or angular velocity, ω,
of the rotating body is
Mv 2
FC = = M Rω2 . (2)
R
Let us assume that the exponents of ω, M and
R are unknowns X, Y and Z , respectively. The
aim of this paper is to explore the experimental
relationship between FC , M, R and ω (or i ). For
that purpose, the following scaling law is assumed:
FC = M Y R Z k X i X , (3)
in which X , Y and Z are the exponents
whose values will be determined experimentally.
These values can be obtained by comparing the
equations (2) and (3), or by dimensional analysis.
As [FC ] = kgs2m , if equation (3) is used,
the units on either side of the equality should be
the same; therefore1: [M]Y = kg; [R] Z = m;
[ki ] X = [k] X [i ] X = ( rad
C
) X ( Cs ) X = s12 . This way
we get to X = 2 and Y = Z = 1.
The method is described as follows with
reference to figures 1 and 2.
Determination of the exponent X
In all situations to be described, the mass M will
rotate when it is in the vertical position A. For
fixed values of both M and R , the mass M is
first moved to another position B and the force
that the spring H has to exert to bring the mass
back to its initial position A is measured with the
1 A radian (rad) is the angle subtended at the centre of a
circle by an arc equal in length to the radius. It is therefore
dimensionless.
PHYSICS EDUCATION 57
C A F Pintão et al
P P
ω=0
z1 Φ
T
T
A A B A
Fe = 0
Mg Mg
R R
Figure 2. Outline of the forces that act on mass M when the mass–spring configuration of the set is altered. In
order to obtain X: R and M are fixed and FC is altered by changing z2. In order to obtain Y: R and FC are fixed
with fixed z2, and M is changed. To obtain Z: the radius R is changed, fixing M and FC, with z2 adjusted to give
the same value of elastic force, Fe' .
dynamometer E. In the position A the spring exerts
a null force on the mass. The change of position of
M from A to B is achieved through the movement
of an adjustable screw fixed to the central rod of
the device. At each new movement of this screw,
the spring deforms to a new value corresponding to
a new elastic force. With a dynamometer attached
to M , a force is applied to bring it back to position
A. In position A, the force that the spring exerts
on M to hold it in that position is evaluated.
Once this force is known, the dynamometer is
removed. Then, by using the speed regulator
of an electric motor and a transmission belt, the
rotational platform is rotated until M is in the
vertical position at A. This device has a viewing
cylinder that moves vertically along the central rod
and indicates the position of M when it reaches a
reference surface. When this cylinder is practically
motionless, in a predefined position, the value of
the electric current is measured. By proceeding
this way as many times as the system allows and
as necessary, several elastic forces whose values
differ from each other can be applied.
58 PHYSICS EDUCATION
P
ω=0 ω=0
z2 z2
T
Fe = 0 Fe' = FC
Mg
R
Determination of the exponent Y
By following the same procedure as described
above, for a constant value of R , for each mass
M moved to position B the force needed to return
the mass M to position A is determined. In this
case, the adjustable screw attached to the central
rod is not turned; therefore, force FC is no longer
altered when mass M in rotation reaches A. As in
the previous procedure, the rotational platform is
moved until M reaches position A, and then the
electric current is measured. This procedure is
repeated for different values of M .
Determination of the exponent Z
For a constant value of M , now for each value
of R that is set, the spring deforms to the same
value. A viewing disc and a reference are used for
this purpose. By following the same procedure as
above, the force that brings the mass from position
B to A is evaluated again. The position of the
adjustable screw fixed to the central rod is no
longer modified, so the value of force FC does
January 2007
 Experimental study of the centripetal force
Table 1. Experimental dependence of FC on i for
R = (15.00 ± 0.05) cm and M = (107.08 ± 0.01) g.
1000
FC (10−3 N) i (10−6 A) 900
800
271.2 12.5 700

FC (10–3 N)
467.0 16.5 600
662.8 19.5 500
858.6 22.0 400
1054 24.0 experimental result
300 linear fitting
Table 2. Experimental dependence of i on M for
R = (14.00 ± 0.05) cm and FC = (858.6 ± 0.1) 200
× 10−3 N. 11 12 13 15 17 18 20 22 23 25
−3 −6
i (10–6 A)
M (10 kg) i (10 A)
Figure 3. The dependence of the centripetal force (FC)
107.08 23.0 on the angular velocity (ω). Linear fit: log(FC) = A +
157.95 19.0 X log(i), with A = 0.15 ± 0.05 and X = 2.07 ± 0.04.
208.59 17.0
259.46 15.0
310.28 13.5

6.0
Table 3. Experimental dependence of i on R for
M = (107.08 ± 0.01) g and FC = (1054 ± 1) 5.0
× 10−3 N.
4.0
R (10−2 m) i (10−6 A)
i –2 (109 A–2)

8.0 23.0 3.0

11.0 19.5
14.0 17.5 experimental result
17.0 16.0 2.0 linear fitting
20.0 14.5
1.5
100 200 300
not change. As in the cases described previously, M (10–3 kg)
the rotational platform is spun until M returns
Figure 4. The dependence of centripetal force (FC) on
to position A, and then the value of the electric the mass (M). Linear fit: log(i –2 ) = A + Y log(M), with
current is recorded. We proceed in this way for A = –1.73 ± 0.08 and Y = 0.99 ± 0.04.
several different values of R .
Some results are expressed below.

Results 5.0
The results obtained by using the method
4.0
described above are presented in tables 1–3 and
figures 3–5. Table 1 shows the results for a
i –2 (109 A–2)

body with a mass M = (107.08 ± 0.01) g 3.0

moving around an imaginary axis coinciding with
the rotating axis of the rotational platform and
experimental result
describing a circle of radius R = (15.00 ± 2.0 linear fitting
0.05) cm. The values V = (6.0 ± 0.1) V and C =
(293.8 ± 0.1) nF were pre-fixed and unchanged 1.5
during the experiments. The electric current was 7 10 15 20
determined by using an analogue multimeter with R (10–2 m)
an internal resistance of the order of 1 k, a Figure 5. The dependence of centripetal force (FC) on
bottom scale of 50 μA and the smallest division the radius (R). Linear fit: log(i –2 ) = A + Z log(R), with
A = –0.62 ± 0.03 and Z = 0.99 ± 0.02.
of 1 μA. A current reading error of 0.5 μA was

January 2007 PHYSICS EDUCATION 59

C A F Pintão et al
associated with the measurement. Figure 3 shows,
on a logarithmic scale, FC versus i according to the
values of table 1. Equation (3) may be rewritten
as
log(FC ) = log(M Y R Z k X ) + X log(i ). (4)
The slope of this straight line is the exponent
of ω, i.e., X . The value found by this procedure,
by using the least squares method, is X = 2.07 ±
0.04. This result is in close agreement with the
theoretical value of X = 2 (see equation (2)).
Table 2 depicts the results for a body with a
known mass M which moves in UCM, describing
a circumference with a radius of R = (14.00 ±
0.05) cm and FC = (858.6 ± 0.1) × 10−3 N. The
values of the mass M and of the electric current i
associated with each measurement are found.
Figure 4 shows, on a logarithmic scale, 1/i 2
versus M according to the values of table 2. If we
assume X = 2, equation (3) may be rewritten as
   2 Z
1 k R
log 2 = log + Y log(M). (5)
i FC
Consequently, the slope of this straight line is the
exponent of M , i.e., Y . This procedure leads to
Y = 0.99 ± 0.04.
Table 3 shows the results for a body with
a mass of M = (107.08 ± 0.01) g moving in
UCM whose radius R is pre-fixed and known.
Associated with each measurement is the force
FC = (1054 ± 1) × 10−3 N and the electric
current i .
As before, figure 5 was plotted using these
values. It represents, on a logarithmic scale, 1/i 2
versus R , since equation (3) may be rewritten as
   2 
1 k M
log 2 = log + Z log(R). (6)
i FC
Consequently, the slope of this straight line is the
exponent of R , i.e., Z . Thus, Z = 0.99 ± 0.02 is
found.
From these results, apart from experimental
error, a good agreement with the theoretical values
X = 2, Y = Z = 1 is noted.
Conclusions
In this experiment, unlike in more traditional
methods, which assume a predefined equation for
the centripetal force, it is assumed that there is
60 PHYSICS EDUCATION
only a power-law relationship between the mass,
radius and angular velocity. This experiment is
not limited to determining the physical quantities
involved in the centripetal force equation, but also
determines the exponents of M , R and ω. Another
advantage of our procedure is the possibility of
determining graphically, through figures 3–5, the
dependence of the centripetal force on mass, radius
and angular velocity, which is rather difficult in
traditional experiments.
Acknowledgment
We would like to thank the Brazilian research
agency FUNDUNESP for financial support.
Received 1 May 2006, in final form 27 July 2006
doi:10.1088/0031-9120/42/1/006
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January 2007
 Experimental study of the centripetal force
[16] Tyler F 1974 A Laboratory Manual of Physics
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January 2007
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Carlos Alberto Fonzar Pintão has a
PhD in Applied Physics and graduated in
Physics and Mechanical Engineering
from São Paulo University, Brazil.
During the last 20 years he has lectured in
Physics for Engineering and Physics
courses. His research is focused on
secondary electron emission in metals
and polymers.
PHYSICS EDUCATION 61