What is Central Force in Physics? | Definition, Equation, Examples – Gravitation

Central Forces Physics:
Central force is that force which acts along the line joining towards the centres of two interacting bodies. A central force is always directed towards the centre as away from a fixed point.

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What is Central Force in Physics? | Definition, Equation, Examples – Gravitation

Our ultimate goal is to solve the equations of motion for two masses m1 and m2 subject to a central force acting between them.

Central Force Equation:

F=F(r)\(\hat{r}\)

In the introduction, we defined a central force to satisfy two characteristics. We can now write turn these descriptions of the characteristics into equations:
(a) A central force depends only on the separation between the two bodies
f21 = −f12 = f(r2 − r1)

(b) it points along the line connecting the two bodies
f21 = −f12 = f(r2 − r1) = f(r) \(\hat{r}\)

Central Forces Examples:

  • Projetile Motion
  • Force due to Graviation
  • Simple harmonic Motion
  • Electrostatic, Magnetostatic Forces

Gravitation:
Have you ever thought, when we throw a ball above the ground level, why it returns back to the ground. It’s because of gravity. When a ball is thrown above the ground in the opposite direction, a gravitational force acts on it which pulls it downwards and makes it fall. This phenomena is called gravitation.

Learn relation between gravitational field and potential field, Kepler’s law of planetary, weightlessness of objects in absence of gravitation, etc.

Newton’s Law of Gravitation Central Force
Acceleration Due to Gravity Factors Affecting Acceleration Due to Gravity
Gravitational Field Intensity Gravitational Potential Energy
Relation between Gravitational Field and Potential Kepler s Laws of Planetary Motion
Earth’s Satellite Orbital Velocity
Escape Velocity Weightlessness