What Is Centrifugal Force

Last Updated on July 29, 2021 by

“Force” is a push or a pull that changes the motion, or movement, of objects. When you push a chair, you are exerting force on it. When you stop pushing,  the chair stops moving.  But suppose you roll a  ball along the ground.   It keeps on rolling after you have stopped pushing it! Why? The explanation for this (developed by Sir Isaac Newton, the first scientist to explain the theories of force)  is the idea of “inertia”. Inertia makes an object keep up whatever motion it has. Every bit of matter has inertia and will keep moving in a straight line at the same speed unless another force changes its motion. For example, if you are riding in a bus and the driver jams on the brakes, your body will hurl forward because of its inertia—it will keep on going forward at the same speed the bus was traveling.

What Is Centrifugal Force

Now let us get to centrifugal force. All of us have experienced this force. We notice it whenever an object travels in a curved path. Let us say you are on that same bus and it suddenly turns a corner. You will probably find yourself falling off the seat into the aisle! The reason is centrifugal force.

Centrifugal force can be explained by using the idea of inertia. When the bus turns, inertia tends to keep your body moving in a straight line. So you tend to move toward the outside of the curve so as to keep your original straight motion. Centrifugal force always seems to push objects to the outside of the curve.

This is why main roads are often tilted around a turn; why aeroplanes bank when they turn; and why, when you are riding a bicycle, you lean inward! This leaning inward, and the banking of roads and airplanes helps to balance centrifugal force, which would otherwise tend to hurl objects outward. The leaning inward balances the tendency to outward and you can make the turn properly.

Centrifugal Force Formula

Use the centrifugal force equation: F = m v² / r . In our example, it will be equal to (10 kg) * (5 m/s)² / (2 m) = 125 kg⋅m/s² = 125 N .

FAQ

What is centrifugal force explain with example?

Centrifugal force, or centripetal force, is the force that acts on a rotating object, causing it to move in a circular motion.

What is difference between centrifugal and centripetal force?

Centripetal force is a dynamic force, which is generated by rotating a body. Due to its rotational nature, it is commonly known as a centrifugal force. On the other hand, Centrifugal force is applied to an object when it is thrown away from its center. While Centrifugal force is produced by the rotation of an object, the centripetal force is produced by the velocity of an object.

Why do we use centrifugal force?

Centrifugal force is a force that opposes the motion of an object due to the fluid density of a fluid. The term “centrifugal force” comes from the Greek word κεντριφήλιον, which means “spinning top” or “whirling top” and is used to describe the force created by the rotation of a rotating body about an axis.

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