Question

a smaller ball is swung around at a constant speed to keep a larger ball suspended. what kind of force is the centripetal force in the lab as performed? normal gravity tension velocity

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze each option

• Normal force: It acts perpendicular to the surface in contact. Here, there is no surface - contact situation relevant to the centripetal force for this swinging ball setup.
• Gravity: Gravity acts vertically downwards. While gravity acts on the balls, it is not the centripetal force. The centripetal force needs to act towards the center of the circular path.
• Tension: When the smaller ball is swung around, the string (or whatever is connecting the balls) is under tension. The horizontal component of the tension in the string provides the centripetal force that keeps the smaller ball moving in a circular path and also helps in keeping the larger ball suspended (by balancing the weight of the larger ball through the vertical component of the tension).
• Velocity: Velocity is a measure of the rate of change of displacement. It is not a force.

Answer:

Tension