Answer to Question #262481 in Physics for Jane

Question

A viral video of a Physics professor in Silliman University is currently circulating because of his demonstration on circular motion. He securely tied the handle of a pail through a string. Then, he filled it with water. He reminded the students that he will swirl the system of objects and assured they will not get wet. Everyone was screaming and when he was finished, the class was shocked no amount of water was spilled throughout the demonstration. Why do you think this happened? Write your answer on the provided answer sheet.

Answer 1

This happened because the water attracted by the centrifugal force couldn't splash out. The bucket is rotating. By inertia, it 'wants' to move in a straight line, but the string makes it rotate in a circle, the string creates the centripetal force. The reaction of water on the bottom of the bucket is the centrifugal force.