Which principle describes the movement of objects along a curved path due to a center-seeking force?

The principle that describes the movement of objects along a curved path due to a center-seeking force is centripetal force. This force acts on an object moving in a circular path and is directed towards the center of that circle. It is essential for keeping the object in curved motion rather than allowing it to move in a straight line, as dictated by Newton's first law of motion, which is related to inertia.

When an object travels along a curved path, such as a car turning on a track or a satellite orbiting a planet, it experiences a centripetal force that pulls it inward, maintaining its curved trajectory. Without this inward force, the object would continue in a straight line due to its inertia.

Other concepts, such as torque or Galileo's principles, do not specifically address the relationship between force and curved motion. Torque, for instance, relates more to rotational motion and the influence of forces applied at a distance from an axis of rotation, while Galileo's principles primarily concern the laws of free-fall and the behavior of objects in motion, including concepts like inertia and acceleration, rather than the specific dynamics of circular motion. Hence, centripetal force directly defines the mechanism that governs the object’s path along a curve.