What is the force called that causes an object to move in a circle?

The force that causes an object to move in a circle is known as centripetal force. This is the inward force required to keep an object moving along a curved path and acts towards the center of the circle around which the object is moving. When an object is in circular motion, it is constantly changing direction, and this change in direction requires a force that is perpendicular to the object's velocity, pulling it toward the center of the circle.

Centripetal force can be provided by various forces, such as tension in a string, gravitational force, or friction, depending on the situation. For example, in the case of a satellite orbiting Earth, gravity acts as the centripetal force keeping the satellite in its curved path.

Other options like centrifugal force describes an apparent force that seems to push an object away from the center of the circular path, but it is not a true force acting on the object; rather, it is a result of inertia. Rotational force is a more ambiguous term and does not specifically refer to the force maintaining circular motion. Gravitational force, while it can provide centripetal force in certain scenarios, is not solely responsible for all circular motion. Hence, centripetal force is specifically the correct term