Which type of bearing is designed to handle radial loads?

The correct choice is ball bearing. Ball bearings are specifically designed to handle both radial and axial loads, but they excel at managing radial loads because of their construction, which consists of balls that are placed in a raceway. This arrangement allows the balls to roll with minimal friction, facilitating smooth rotation and reducing wear over time.

While both cylindrical bearings and journal bearings can also handle radial loads, they do so with different design principles and are often used in different applications. Cylindrical bearings utilize rolling elements in a cylindrical shape that helps distribute the load effectively, while journal bearings provide support through a sliding surface rather than rolling elements. Thrust bearings, on the other hand, are primarily designed to handle axial loads rather than radial loads, making them unsuitable for this particular question.

In summary, ball bearings are ideal for radial loads due to their efficient design, allowing them to perform well across various applications requiring radial support.