What is Centrifugal force: Definition and 203 Discussions

In Newtonian mechanics, the centrifugal force is an inertial force (also called a "fictitious" or "pseudo" force) that appears to act on all objects when viewed in a rotating frame of reference. It is directed away from an axis which is parallel to the axis of rotation and passing through the coordinate system's origin. If the axis of rotation passes through the coordinate system's origin, the centrifugal force is directed radially outwards from that axis. The magnitude of centrifugal force F on an object of mass m at the distance r from the origin of a frame of reference rotating with angular velocity ω is:

The concept of centrifugal force can be applied in rotating devices, such as centrifuges, centrifugal pumps, centrifugal governors, and centrifugal clutches, and in centrifugal railways, planetary orbits and banked curves, when they are analyzed in a rotating coordinate system.
Confusingly, the term has sometimes also been used for the reactive centrifugal force, a real inertial-frame-independent Newtonian force that exists as a reaction to a centripetal force.

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  1. B

    Centrifugal Force on a Bucket of Water

    I had a test the other day and it doesn't sound like it will be graded for quite some time (our TA seems to be over his head in classwork). I wanted to see if anyone here could tell me if my answer to one of the questions is correct and justified. Prethanks. Homework Statement "A bucket...
  2. C

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  3. R

    How Is Centrifugal Force Calculated in Rotating Objects?

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  4. R

    Calculating Centrifugal Force of a Car on a Curved Road

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  5. Nabeshin

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  6. R

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  7. S

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  8. L

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  9. D

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  10. M

    Uncovering the Mystery of Centrifugal Forces: Hafele and Keating Experiment

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  11. W

    Centrifugal force on rotating blades

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  12. S

    Is Reactive Centrifugal Force the Correct Term in Physics?

    Can anyone comment on the reaction force to the centrifugal force?
  13. S

    Equality between centrifugal force and V

    Hi everyone, Today in a question I saw an equality like this but I couldn't figure out how they are equal? Can anyonu help me please? mv^2/ r = | dV/dr |
  14. L

    Space Elevator and Centrifugal Force

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  15. RonL

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  16. A

    Centrifugal force and Newton 3rd law

    Ok, I have a general question about centrifugal force. Lets say I have an object who moves in a circular path, we know the object is accelerating because the velocity is constantly changing direction, the acceleration is towards the center. Now, where does the centrifugal force comes to...
  17. R

    When did centrifugal force die?

    Sometime in the mid-nineteenth century centrifugal force fell from grace with modern physics. Physics texts from the 1920’s define it, even apply it, yet modern texts ignore or deny it. Newton, Mach, Berkeley and Einstein all used centrifugal force to describe a force that seeks to “flee...
  18. A

    The Physics of Roulette: Exploring Centrifugal Force

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  19. B

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  20. T

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  21. N

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  22. N

    Is Centrifugal Force Real or a Pseudo Force?

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  23. C

    Free-fall Acceleration with Centrifugal Force

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  24. A

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  25. B

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  26. A

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  27. W

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  28. H

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  29. W

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  30. R

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  31. M

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  32. M

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  33. andrevdh

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  34. A

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    "Centrifugal" Force Say you have a cylinder of radius r with πr2h liters of water in it. If you put it on some sort of turntable and spin it with an angular velocity ω, is there a way to tell what the shape of the water will be? I mean, if you look at the cross section will you be able to...
  35. G

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    Hi, I'm attempting to workout what is the G-force applied to an object that is traveling at 1 m/s/s in a perfect circle with a radius of 5m. The circle is verticle not horizontal. The total weight being propelled is 300KG and is running on the inside of a track. There is no air resistance or...
  36. S

    Explain Centripetal & Centrifugal Force to Inanics

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  37. R

    Centrifugal force for supporting vacuum chamber walls?

    My aerospace application requires a very lightweight vacuum chamber. Could you rotate a cylindrical chamber about its vertical axis to provide outward pressure to support the pressure of the air? How fast would it have to rotate to provide an outward pressure of 15 lbs./sq. in.? The initial...
  38. N

    Centrifugal Force: Explaining Equations

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  39. G

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  40. P

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  41. Chi Meson

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  42. D

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  43. J

    How Do You Calculate Centrifugal Force in CNC Tools?

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  44. E

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  45. H

    Calculating Centrifugal Force for 200 Grams at 100 mph and 4' Radius

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  46. A

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  47. A

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  48. M

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  49. Loren Booda

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  50. R

    How can the satellite have an centrifugal force?

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