What is a good hypothesis for: using your previous knowledge, predict the relationship between centripetal force, frequency, period, and radius.

Imagine a point of mass `m` that moves in a circular trajectory. Since every mass has its inertia, (namely `m*a` ) it will tend to move in a straight line and keep its moving state as long as it is unperturbed by an external force. Therefore the act of curving the trajectory needs to correspond to a force applied to the mass, namely the centripetal force. The higher the curvature (smaller the radius of the curve), the higher the centripetal force needs to be.

`F_(cp) = A/R` , where A is a constant.  (1)

Consider the point has a certain speed. To modify the direction of its constant speed (to make it move in a circle), one will need to create an acceleration, hence to apply a force (namely the centripetal force). Higher the speed, higher the acceleration that need to be created, thus higher the centripetal force. In practice

`F_(cp) = B*v^2` where B is a constant.  (2)

Combining (1) and (2) one gets

`F_(cp) =C*v^2/R` , where C is a constant  (3)

Now, to find the dependence on the frequency. Higher the speed, higher the number of complete circles he makes in the same time, thus a higher frequency. In practice

`v = 2*pi*F*R`

which combined with (3) gives

`F_(cp) =C*4*pi^2*(F^2*R^2)/R = C*4*pi^2*F^2*R `

`F_(cp) =D*F^2*R` , where D is a constant

Finally since frequency is just the inverse of period `F=1/T` one has

`F_(cp) =D*R/T^2` , where D is a constant

Answer: the relationship between the centripetal force, frequency, period and radius is `F_(cp) = D*F^2*R =D*R/T^2`  where D is a constant.

Approved by eNotes Editorial Team