Here we are going to see how centri

Here we are going to see how centripetal force acts on an object to move it in a circular path, and see that the centripetal force acts toward the center of the path. The object that we are going to move in a circular path is this penny, and we will apply the force with this hanger, that is diamond shape. I am going to balance the penny right on the end of the hanger. What I am going to do is swing it in a circle. I am going to go ahead and do this so you can see that it can be done. Pretty easy to get it started, but harder to bring it to a stop and keep it on the hanger. Let's see if I can do it.

So what we have seen here is the penny is forced to move in a circular path by the force of the hanger, which is directed toward the center of the path.