Experimental study of the centripetal force

We describe an experimental set-up for studying and determining the centripetal force acting on a body whose mass and radius of circular trajectory are known. The experimental behaviour is determined and compared with theoretical predictions by using a system that allows for the evaluation of the angular velocity by means of electric current measurements, and by assuming a potential dependence of the force on the body mass, radius and angular velocity. © 2007 IOP Publishing Ltd