Question

You swing a ball in a vertical circle at the end of a string that always remains taut. At the top of the circle, the centripetal force on the ball is:

a.) larger thant its weight,
b.) onehalf of its weight
c) smaller than its weight
d.) equal to its weight
e.) twice its weight

Answer 1

The centripetal force on the ball at the top of the circle is (c) smaller than its weight.

Step-by-step explanation:

The centripetal force on the ball at the top of the circle is smaller than its weight.

This can be explained by understanding that the centripetal force required to keep an object moving in a circle is directly proportional to the mass of the object and the square of its velocity, and inversely proportional to the radius of the circular path. Since the ball is at the top of the circle, its velocity is zero, resulting in a smaller centripetal force compared to its weight.

Therefore, the correct answer is (c) smaller than its weight.