Final answer:
The magnitude of centripetal force will decrease if the radius of the circular path increases, as the force is inversely proportional to the radius of curvature while being directly proportional to the square of the velocity and the mass of the rotating body.
Step-by-step explanation:
The magnitude of the centripetal force acting on an object traveling in a horizontal circular path is influenced by several factors, including the mass of the object, its velocity, and the radius of the path. Newton's second law implies that the centripetal force, which is always directed towards the center of rotation, is essential in maintaining circular motion. If we use the formula Fc = mv2/r, where Fc is the centripetal force, m is the mass, v is the velocity, and r is the radius, it is clear that the centripetal force is directly proportional to both the mass and the square of the velocity, but inversely proportional to the radius.
Therefore, an increase in the radius of the circular path would result in a decrease in the centripetal acceleration and thus, a decrease in the centripetal force, as centripetal acceleration (ac = v2/r) is directly proportional to the square of the object's velocity and inversely proportional to the radius of curvature (r).