What is the name of the force that keeps an object moving inward in a curved path?

The force that keeps an object moving inward in a curved path is known as centripetal force. This force acts perpendicular to the object's direction of motion and towards the center of the curve or circular path it is following. When an object travels along a curved trajectory, centripetal force is what ensures that it does not fly off in a straight line due to inertia, which is the object's natural tendency to maintain its state of motion.

Centrifugal force, often mistakenly mentioned in conjunction with centripetal force, is not actually a real force but rather a perceived effect when observing motion in a rotating reference frame. In a non-inertial frame, it may appear as if there is an outward force acting on the object, but the actual force that enables the circular motion is the centripetal force itself.

Thus, when analyzing any scenario where an object is in circular motion—such as a car turning on a curved road, a satellite orbiting a planet, or a ball being swung around on a string—the constant inward pull that keeps the object on that path is indeed centripetal force.