I am pretty unschooled in the world of physics so please forgive my lack of understanding.

 

Firstly, the force that would cause the ball to move to the top of the structure is centripetal force correct?

 

As the ball moves upwards through the Y axis, according to Newtons Third Law, as the ball moves upwards it is creating an equal force downwards?

 

How would the force generated by the movement of the ball through the Y plane be calculated?

 

Thanks<br><br>(assume there was an identical ball on the opposite arm behaving in the same manner to provide equal balance)<br>

Edited October 8, 201213 yr by sl235

It's the centrifuge force.

 

F = m . ω2 . R

m mass (kg), ω rotation (radians/second), R radius (m).

Then if you consider a frictionless glide of the ball on the arm, applying an horizontal force F on the ball will result in a vertical force F' on it as well, the sum F + F' being aligned with the arm.

If alpha is then angle between the arm and the horizontal plan, F' / F = tan alpha.

So the vertical force will be F' = m x ω2 x R x tan alpha.