What is centrifugal force?

What is centrifugal force?

• A. Away from the center
• B. Toward the center
• C. Perpendicular to the radius
• D. No net force

Answer: (A)

Centrifugal force is the outward push that appears when you’re in a rotating frame of reference. It comes from the tendency of an object to keep moving in a straight line, while the frame you’re in is turning with it. Because the path is curved, that straight-line tendency is perceived as a force pushing away from the center of rotation. So the best description is that it acts away from the center. In a non-rotating (inertial) frame, there isn’t a real outward force; instead, the inward pull that keeps the object moving in a circle is the centripetal force. The directions toward the center and perpendicular to the radius don’t match the outward push described by centrifugal force, and saying there is no net force would ignore the inward acceleration required for circular motion.

Centrifugal force is the outward push that appears when you’re in a rotating frame of reference. It comes from the tendency of an object to keep moving in a straight line, while the frame you’re in is turning with it. Because the path is curved, that straight-line tendency is perceived as a force pushing away from the center of rotation. So the best description is that it acts away from the center.

In a non-rotating (inertial) frame, there isn’t a real outward force; instead, the inward pull that keeps the object moving in a circle is the centripetal force. The directions toward the center and perpendicular to the radius don’t match the outward push described by centrifugal force, and saying there is no net force would ignore the inward acceleration required for circular motion.