[Jeff]

nmgolfer

Instead of calling me clueless, why don't you use your superior knowledge to point out the errors in my understanding of the term "centripetal force". There are many other forum members who could benefit if you share your knowledge in a constructive fashion - by demonstrating my faulty reasoning.

Consider my understanding of the term "centripetal force".

In a previous post (#264) I wrote the following-: "Imagine that there a million points on that hypothetical circle's circumference, and imagine that an orbiting object (traveling at a constant finite speed) has to move from from one point on the circumference to the next point on the circumference to the next point on the circumference -- and that it has to complete this process one million times to complete one orbit. In each of those movements (from one point to the next point), the orbiting object needs a tangential force to move it at its constant "finite" speed and a centripetal force to keep it moving on the circular path."

Now, consider the following diagram.



I mentioned that one could mentally picture that there a million time-points that the orbiting object will pass through on its circular orbit around one circumference of the circle in one second.

Now, imagine that the orbiting object is at point A. Then, one millionth of a second later the object is at point C.

What forces are in play to move the orbiting object from point A to point C, and do those forces involve the use of energy?

I believe that two forces are in play. The first force is a tangential force that moves the object in a straight line direction with enough energy to keep the object traveling at the same speed. In one millionth of a second, if that tangential force was operant, and no centripetal force was present, then the object should end up at point B (having traveled in a straight line at a 90 degree angle to the circumference of the circle).

If the orbiting object ends up at point C, then we can reasonably conclude that a centripetal force is present. What did that centripetal force actually do? I think that the centripetal force applied centripetal acceleration that moved the orbiting object more inwards (towards the center of the circle) so that it ends up at point C instead of point B. The centripetal force, in theory, should direct the orbiting object to the center of the circle. However, the amount of energy that the centripetal force has is only sufficient to bend the path of straight line movement of the orbiting object enough to get it to point C in one millionth of a second - in other words, the centripetal force has enough energy to keep the orbiting object traveling on a constant circular path. The centripetal force when operant is manifesting its force (energy) and it is therefore doing work to get the orbiting object to end up at point C instead of point B.

Please explain the errors in my reasoning?

Thanks,

Jeff.

p.s. I did read all those links.