Does Centripetal Force work in space?

Question

If so, how? My buddies and I believe gravity is needed in order for the force to exist. Any help is appreciated.

Answer 1

Yes, it does work in space. That is what keeps planets in orbit around the Sun and moons in orbit around planets. The gravitational field is indeed necessary for the centripetal force to exist. Mathematically, the centripetal force is given by the product of mass and squared tangential velocity/speed all over the distance.

Answer 2

Centripetal Force is not a kind of force. It is a direction of force. Your argument is equivalent to arguing over whether forces are allowed to be in the X-direction in space. Any force can be centripetal if it is directed inwards towards a center.

Answer 3

Yes, it does work in space, but gravity is not required.

Any motion in a curved path represents accelerated motion, and requires a force directed toward the center of curvature of the path. Centripetal force, which means "center seeking" force, is the name for the force.

For example, if you were in free space and swing a mass on a string, the string tension provides the force. The mass will travel off in a tangential straight line if the string breaks.

See also:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_...