A 2.0 kg mass is attached to a string that is 1.0 m long and moves in a horizontal circle at a rate of 4.0 revolutions per second.

a) What is the centripetal acceleration of the mass?
I converted 4 rev/s to 25.13 rad/s and used the equation: a=rw^2 to get 632 m/s^2

b) What is the tension in the string?
The answer sheet says 1250 N but I have no idea how to get there.

4 answers

Your problem only has two significant figures accuracy

to two significant figures w = 25
so
r w^2 = 625

F = m a
F = 2 kg * 625 m/s^2 = 1250 N
Thanks. I didn't realize f=ma could be used because of gravity's acceleration.
Gravity is not in this because it says in a HORIZONTAL circle (it must be on a table top or something but 625 is much bigger than g anyway))
Okay, I understand now. Thank you.