Malcolm Rivera
Centripetal and centrifugal forces are two terms used to describe the physics of circular motion. The centripetal force points towards the centre of a circle, keeping an object moving in a circular path. The word centripetal means centre-seeking. The centrifugal force, on the other hand, is a fictitious force that makes it feel, for a rotating object, as if something is pushing it outward, away from the centre of the circle. Centripetal and centrifugal forces constitute an action-reaction pair, with the former being the action and the latter being the reaction force.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Centripetal force | Keeps an object moving in a circle, always pointing towards the centre of that circle |
| Centripetal force in circular motion | Pushes an object inward towards the centre, keeping it moving in a circle |
| Centripetal force in mechanical engineering | Exerts an outward force on the immediately adjacent, radially inward layer |
| Centripetal force in physics | A real force |
| Centrifugal force | A fictitious force, an apparent outward force on an object moving in a circle |
| Centrifugal force in circular motion | Pushes an object away from the centre of the circle |
| Centrifugal force in mechanical engineering | Exerts an inward force on the immediately adjacent, radially outward layer |
| Centrifugal force in physics | Not a real force |
| Action-reaction force | Centripetal force and centrifugal force are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction |
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What You'll Learn
- Centripetal force is real, centrifugal force is not
- Centripetal force acts on a body in motion, centrifugal force does not
- Centripetal force pulls inward, centrifugal force pulls outward
- Centripetal force is required for circular motion
- Centripetal force and centrifugal force are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction
Centripetal force is real, centrifugal force is not
The terms "centripetal" and "centrifugal" refer to two forces that describe the physics of circular motion. The centripetal force is always directed toward the center of a circle, and it keeps an object moving in a circular path. For example, the gravitational force of the sun is a centripetal force that keeps the Earth orbiting it. The word "centripetal" means "center-seeking".
On the other hand, the centrifugal force is a fictitious or pseudo force. It is an apparent outward force on an object that is moving in a circle. This phantom force can feel very real if you are the one rotating. For example, when you ride a Gravitron or similar amusement park rides, you experience an outward-pushing centrifugal force. This force is often mistakenly thought to cause a body to fly out of its circular path when it is released. However, it is actually the removal of the centripetal force that allows the body to travel in a straight line.
While the centrifugal force is not a real force, it is still useful in describing certain phenomena. For example, it can be used to describe the sensation of flying outward that you experience on certain amusement park rides. It can also be used in engineering concepts, such as analyzing the stresses within a rapidly rotating turbine blade.
According to Newton's third law of motion, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In the case of centripetal and centrifugal forces, the two forces are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction. The centripetal force acts to counter the centrifugal force and maintain a constant distance from the axis of rotation. So, while the centrifugal force itself is not real, the concept of a reactive centrifugal force can be used to describe the reaction to the centripetal force. This reactive centrifugal force acts upon the object or system exerting the centripetal force, such as a string and a post in the case of a ball in uniform circular motion.
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Centripetal force acts on a body in motion, centrifugal force does not
Centripetal and centrifugal forces are two terms used to describe the physics of circular motion. The centripetal force points toward the centre of a circle, keeping an object moving in a circular path. The word "centripetal" means "centre-seeking".
On the other hand, the centrifugal force is what's known as a fictitious force. It's an apparent outward force on an object that is moving in a circle. This phantom force can feel very real if you are the one rotating. For example, when you are whirling around on a Gravitron, you experience an apparent centrifugal force pushing you away from the centre of the circle. However, the centrifugal force does not act on the body in motion. The only force acting on the body in motion is the centripetal force. The centrifugal force acts on the source of the centripetal force to displace it radially from the centre of the path.
In a system where a ball is in uniform circular motion held to its path by a string tied to an immovable post, the string exerts a centripetal force on the ball, and the ball exerts an equal but outward reaction on the string, which is the reactive centrifugal force. The reactive centrifugal force is not the same as the centrifugal pseudoforce, which is usually what is referred to as the centrifugal force. The reactive centrifugal force, together with the centripetal force, constitutes a reaction pair.
Centripetal and centrifugal forces are associated with circular motion. For circular motion to occur, there must be a constant force acting on a body, pushing it towards the centre of the circular path. This force is the centripetal force. The centrifugal force acts to counter the centripetal force to maintain a constant distance from the axis of rotation.
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Centripetal force pulls inward, centrifugal force pulls outward
Centripetal force pulls inward, while centrifugal force pulls outward. The former is an actual force that points toward the centre of a circle, keeping an object moving in a circular path. The word "centripetal" means "centre-seeking".
On the other hand, centrifugal force is a fictitious force that is not real. It is an apparent outward force on an object moving in a circle. This phantom force can feel very real if you are the one rotating. For example, when riding in a car taking a banked turn, you feel a force pushing you away from the centre of the circle, which is the centrifugal force.
Newton's third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In the context of centripetal and centrifugal forces, the two forces are indeed an action-reaction pair. The centripetal force acts to counter the centrifugal force, maintaining a constant distance from the axis of rotation.
A simple example to illustrate this concept is twirling a rock tied to a string. The string exerts an inward centripetal force on the rock, keeping it from flying off in a straight line. At the same time, from the rock's perspective, there appears to be an outward centrifugal force on the string.
In summary, while centripetal force pulls inward and centrifugal force pulls outward, they work together as an action-reaction pair to maintain circular motion.
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Centripetal force is required for circular motion
The formula for centripetal force is given by F = mv^2/r, where 'F' is the centripetal force, 'm' is the mass, 'v' is the velocity, and 'r' is the radius of the circle. This formula suggests that as the speed of the object increases, so does the centripetal force experienced by it. Conversely, as the radius of the circle increases, the centripetal force decreases.
In a rotating system, the centripetal force pulls the mass inward, while the mass appears to push outward due to its inertia. This is where the concept of centrifugal force comes into play. Centrifugal force is the apparent force that acts on an object moving in a circle, making it feel as if something is pushing it outward, away from the centre. It is important to note that centrifugal force is not a real force but rather a fictitious or phantom force. It is a way to describe the sensation of flying outward, such as when riding on amusement park rides like the Gravitron.
To summarise, centripetal force is necessary to maintain circular motion, and it acts as a counter to centrifugal force, ensuring a constant distance from the axis of rotation. Together, they constitute an action-reaction pair, with the centripetal force being the real force and the centrifugal force being the apparent force.
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Centripetal force and centrifugal force are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction
Centripetal and centrifugal forces are associated with circular motion. The centripetal force points towards the centre of a circle, keeping an object moving in a circular path. The word "centripetal" means "centre-seeking".
On the other hand, the centrifugal force is not a real force. It is a fictitious or pseudo force. It makes it feel, for a rotating object, as if something is pushing it outward, away from the centre of the circle. Centrifugal means "centre-fleeing".
When a body is in motion, it travels in a straight line with constant velocity unless acted upon by an outside force. For circular motion to occur, there must be a constant force acting on a body, pushing it towards the centre of the circle. This force is the centripetal force.
The centripetal force and the centrifugal force are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction. The centrifugal force does not act on the body in motion; the only force acting on the body in motion is the centripetal force. The centrifugal force acts on the source of the centripetal force to displace it radially from the centre of the path. For example, when a rock tied to a string is twirled, the string exerts an inward centripetal force on the rock, while from the rock's perspective, there appears to be an outward centrifugal force on the string.
Thus, the centripetal force and the centrifugal force constitute an action-reaction pair.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, centripetal and centrifugal forces are an action-reaction pair. The centripetal force is the action force that points towards the centre of a circle, keeping an object moving in a circular path. The centrifugal force is the reaction force that acts on the source of the centripetal force, pushing it outward away from the centre of the circle.
An example of centripetal force is a rock tied to a string. When the string is swirled around, the tension in the string keeps the rock from flying off in a straight line.
Centrifugal force is a fictitious or pseudo force. It is the apparent outward force on an object that is moving in a circle, making it feel as if something is pushing it outward.
