Physics Quiz

What is the term used to describe a force that is directed toward a fixed center?

• Gravitational force

• Centripetal force

• Frictional force

• Electrical force

According to the text, what happens when the centripetal force that holds a car on a curved path is not great enough?

• The car accelerates

• The car stops immediately

• The car skids

• The car's speed increases

What role does centripetal force play in the operation of a centrifuge, as described in the text?

• It heats up the contents of the centrifuge

• It separates the components by density

• It forces the contents into a circular path

• It reduces the gravitational force on the contents

What prevents the exertion of the same force on the water in the clothes during the spin cycle of an automatic washer?

• The adhesion of water to clothes

• The heat generated by the washer

• The holes in the tub

• The electrical force

Why is the water not forced away from the clothes in a spinning tub of an automatic washer?

• Because of the adhesion of water to clothes

• Because the water is heavier than the clothes

• Because the tub exerts great force on the clothes, not the water

• Because the water evaporates

What happens to the mud on a spinning tire if the centripetal force is not great enough?

• It gets absorbed by the tire

• It remains on the tire

• It spins off in straight-line directions

• It evaporates