If you swung a bucket of water quickly in an upside down circular path, the water would not fall out of the bucket. Which of the following best describes why this happens? a. Due to centripetal force, the water is pushing on the bottom of the bucket.***** b. air resistance pushes on the water and keeps it from falling out. c. gravity does not act on objects moving in a circular path
Are you sure it isn't centrifugal force?
The correct answer is a. Due to centripetal force, the water is pushing on the bottom of the bucket.
To understand why this happens, we need to understand the concept of centripetal force. Centripetal force is the force that pulls an object toward the center of its circular path. In this case, when the bucket is swung in an upside down circular path, the centripetal force acts on the water inside the bucket, keeping it from falling out.
Centripetal force can be provided by various factors, such as tension in a string, gravitational force, or friction. In the case of the swinging bucket, the centripetal force is provided by the tension in the bucket, which is exerted on the water.
As the bucket is swung, the water inside the bucket tends to move in a straight line due to its inertia. However, the bucket exerts an inward force on the water, pulling it towards the center of the circular path. This inward force counters the outward motion of the water and prevents it from spilling out of the bucket.
Therefore, due to the centripetal force exerted by the swinging motion of the bucket, the water is pushed against the bottom of the bucket, preventing it from falling out.