Centripetal Force An object of mass m moves at a constant speed v in a circular path of radius v according to the position vector .
(a) The force required to produce the centripetal component of acceleration is called the centripetal force and is given by F = mv2/r. Use F = ma to verify the centripetal force.
(b) Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation is given by , where d is the distance between the centers of the two bodies of masses M and m. and G is the gravitational constant. Use this law to show that the speed required for circular motion is .
