# Can Lorentz forces partially cancel centrifugal forces?

If we had a tidally stabilised skyhook (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_tether#/media/File:Skyhooks.gif) with electric charge and with a vector of force aiming towards the center of the Earth, would it cancel part of the centrifugal force that has an opposite vector at (hypothetical) speeds close to escape velocity?

If not, why not?

• If there was a tether attached to a spinning object, the forces are already cancelled out. The tension force is $x$ Newtons. And the Earth is "holding" or "pulling" the tether in also at $x$ Newtons. This is Newton's Third Law. Nov 22 '20 at 3:44
• @StarMan Thanks for your answer. Would the lorentz force partially or totally cancel the centrifugal if the tether isn't spinning?: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_tether#/media/File:Skyhooks.gif Nov 22 '20 at 3:47
• If the tether isn't spinning, then there would be no centrifugal force. Centrifugal force isn't technically a force. It's simply an object being prevented by something like a tether from going off in a straight path from its inertia (Newton's First Law). Nov 22 '20 at 3:51
• @StarMan Thanks for your answer. I was thinking more in the case that the thether stars orbiting really fast to the point of getting close to escape velocity (just a hypothetical scenario). In that case, I assume there would be some centrifugal force? If yes, would an opposite Lorentz force partially cancel it? Nov 22 '20 at 4:03
• Welcome to Space! Are you trying to display an image with the link in the question? Nov 22 '20 at 4:29