alleryStart learning →A stone is whirled on a string in a horizontal circle. What supplies the centripetal force?
AThe tension in the string
BThe weight of the stone
CThe air pushing it inward
DThe spin of the whirling hand
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. The tension in the string
1. Centripetal force names whichever net force keeps a body on its circular path.
2. For a stone on a string, that inward pull is supplied by the tension in the string.
3. The source of the force differs from case to case, as with gravity holding the Moon in orbit.
4. Weight acts vertically downward here and so cannot supply the horizontal inward pull.
_Source: OpenStax College Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 6 "Uniform Circular Motion and Gravitation", section 6.3 Centripetal Force_
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