Question

As a skater forms a circle, what force is responsible for making her turn? Use a free body diagram in your answer.

a) Centripetal force.
b) Gravitational force.
c) Frictional force.
d) Tension force.

Answer 1

The force responsible for making the skater turn in a circle is the centripetal force.

Step-by-step explanation:

The force responsible for making the skater turn as she forms a circle is centripetal force. Centripetal force is the net force that acts towards the center of the circular path, keeping the object moving in a curved trajectory. It is the force that causes the acceleration necessary for circular motion.

A free body diagram of the skater would show the centripetal force pointing towards the center of the circle, while other forces such as gravitational force and frictional force may also be present, but they do not contribute directly to the turning motion.