Centrifugal and centripetal forces are two important concepts in physics that describe the way objects move in circular motion. While these terms may sound complicated, they can be easily understood with some simple explanations and that’s what we are planning to do!
Centrifugal force is the force that pulls an object away from the center of rotation. This force arises when an object is moving in a circular path, and it is caused by the tendency of the object to keep moving in a straight line, rather than following the curve of the circle. As an example, if you swing a ball attached to a string around in a circle, the ball will try to keep moving in a straight line, away from the center of rotation, which is the point where the string is attached. This is what creates the sensation of a force pulling the ball outward, away from the center of rotation, and this is the centrifugal force.
Centripetal force, on the other hand, is the force that pulls an object toward the center of rotation. This force is needed to keep an object moving in a circular path, as it counteracts the tendency of the object to move in a straight line. For example, if you swing a ball attached to a string around in a circle, the tension in the string creates a force that pulls the ball toward the center of rotation, which is the point where the string is attached. This force keeps the ball moving in a circular path, and this is the centripetal force.
It is important to note that centrifugal and centripetal forces are not opposite forces, but rather they work together as one to create circular motion. In fact, without centripetal force, an object would fly off in a straight line tangent to the circle it was previously traveling on, and without centrifugal force, an object would be pulled inward towards the center of rotation, eventually crashing towards the center.
In addition, it is also important to note that centrifugal force is not a real force in the sense that it does not come from a physical object or an interaction. Instead, it is a “fictitious force” that is produced from a person’s frame of reference, specifically, the acceleration the person is experiencing.
To better understand these forces, I want to look at a handful of real-world examples. Consider a car driving around a circular racetrack. The tires of the car provide the necessary centripetal force that keeps the car moving in a circle, and if the tires lose traction, the car will no longer be able to turn and will continue in a straight line tangent to the circle it was previously traveling on. In addition, the sensation of being pushed outward in the car during a turn is due to the centrifugal force, which is caused by the tendency of the car and its passengers to keep moving in a straight line.
Another example can be seen in amusement park rides such as the spinning teacups or the gravitron ride which you typically see at carnivals and other fairs. In these rides, the centripetal force is provided by the ride mechanism itself, while the centrifugal force is experienced by the riders as they are pushed against the sides of the ride as it spins around.
Yet another real-world example of centrifugal and centripetal forces is a washing machine during the spin cycle. When the washing machine is spinning, the drum of the machine rotates in a circular motion. The clothes in the drum are pulled toward the center of the drum due to the centripetal force, which keeps the clothes from flying out of the machine. At the same time, the drum itself experiences a centrifugal force, pushing outward on the walls of the machine. The balance of these forces keeps the clothes inside the drum and allows them to be washed effectively.
A fourth real-world example of centrifugal and centripetal forces is a roller coaster as it moves through a loop. As the roller coaster approaches the top of the loop, the force of gravity provides the necessary centripetal force to keep the coaster on the track and moving in a circular path. As the coaster moves down the loop, the sensation of being pushed outward against the seat or harness is due to the centrifugal force, which is caused by the tendency of the coaster and its passengers to keep moving in a straight line. The balance of these forces allows the coaster to safely move through the loop and complete the ride.
Our last real-world example of centrifugal and centripetal forces will take us to space. Think of a planet in orbit around a star. The centripetal force in this case is provided by the gravitational force between the planet and the star, which keeps the planet in a circular path around the star. At the same time, the planet experiences a centrifugal force, which is caused by the tendency of the planet to keep moving in a straight line due to its inertia. The balance of these forces keeps the planet in orbit and prevents it from flying off into space.
In summary, centrifugal and centripetal forces are important concepts in physics that describe the way objects move in circular motion. Centrifugal force is the force that pulls an object away from the center of rotation, while centripetal force is the force that pulls an object toward the center of rotation. These forces work together to create circular motion, and without either force, circular motion would not be possible. Next time you are at an amusement park, a carnival, doing laundry or staring into space at the stars you can think about how these two forces work together and against each other to make every day occurrences operate.
