Is centripetal force present in inertial and non-inertial frames?

In summary, centripetal force is present in both inertial and non-inertial frames. In the case of circular motion, the fictitious forces of centrifugal and Coriolis are often referred to as pseudo-forces. From the perspective of an inertial frame, the car is accelerating towards the center of the circle and requires a centripetal force to maintain this motion. However, from the perspective of a rotating frame, there is a centrifugal force that appears to push the car and its occupants outwards. The Coriolis force, which is only visible in large-scale motion, also plays a role in circular motion by causing objects to deviate from their expected path.
  • #1
abhijitlohiya
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is centripetal force present in inertial and non-inertial frames?
 
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  • #2
abhijitlohiya said:
is centripetal force present in inertial and non-inertial frames?

Centrifugal and Coriolis are sometimes called pseudo-forces.

I think the reason for this is because they do not appear in a rotating (non-inertial) reference frame.

frim wiki:

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Circular motion
A similar effect occurs in circular motion, circular for the standpoint of an inertial frame of reference attached to the road, with the fictitious force called the centrifugal force, fictitious when seen from a non-inertial frame of reference. If a car is moving at constant speed around a circular section of road, the occupants will feel pushed outside, away from the center of the turn. Again the situation can be viewed from inertial or non-inertial frames:

1. From the viewpoint of an inertial reference frame stationary with respect to the road, the car is accelerating toward the center of the circle. This is called centripetal acceleration and requires a centripetal force to maintain the motion. This force is maintained by the friction of the wheels on the road. The car is accelerating, due to the unbalanced force, which causes it to move in a circle.

2. From the viewpoint of a rotating frame, moving with the car, there is a fictitious centrifugal force that tends to push the car toward the outside of the road (and the occupants toward the outside of the car). The centrifugal force is balanced by the acceleration of the tires inward, making the car stationary in this non-inertial frame.

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Another fictitious force that arises in the case of circular motion is the Coriolis force, which is ordinarily visible only in very large-scale motion like the projectile motion of long-range guns or the circulation of the Earth's atmosphere. Neglecting air resistance, an object dropped from a 50 m high tower at the equator will fall 7.7 mm eastward of the spot below where it was dropped because of the Coriolis force.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerated_reference_frame

edited for content and format!
 
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  • #3


Centripetal force is a force that acts towards the center of a circular motion, keeping an object moving in a circular path. In an inertial frame, which is a reference frame where Newton's laws of motion hold true, centripetal force is present and necessary to maintain circular motion. This is because an object in motion will continue moving in a straight line unless acted upon by a force, and the centripetal force serves to constantly change the direction of the object's velocity towards the center of the circle.

In a non-inertial frame, such as a rotating reference frame, the laws of motion do not hold true and the centripetal force may not be explicitly present. However, the effects of centripetal force can still be observed in the form of apparent forces, such as the centrifugal force, which is a reaction force to the centripetal force and appears to push objects away from the center of rotation.

In summary, while the presence of centripetal force may not be explicitly observed in non-inertial frames, its effects can still be observed and understood within the context of the laws of motion. Therefore, it can be said that centripetal force is present in both inertial and non-inertial frames.
 

1. What is centripetal force?

Centripetal force is a force that acts towards the center of a circular motion. It is responsible for keeping an object moving in a circular path.

2. Is centripetal force present in both inertial and non-inertial frames?

Yes, centripetal force is present in both inertial and non-inertial frames. In an inertial frame, the centripetal force is balanced by the object's inertia, while in a non-inertial frame, it is balanced by a fictitious force known as the centrifugal force.

3. What is the difference between inertial and non-inertial frames?

Inertial frames are frames of reference in which Newton's laws of motion hold true. This means that an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will continue to move at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force. Non-inertial frames, on the other hand, are accelerating frames of reference where Newton's laws do not hold true.

4. How does centripetal force affect objects in circular motion?

Centripetal force is responsible for changing the direction of an object's velocity, causing it to move in a circular path. Without centripetal force, an object would continue to move in a straight line.

5. Can an object experience centripetal force without being in circular motion?

No, an object cannot experience centripetal force without being in circular motion. Centripetal force is defined as a force that acts towards the center of a circular motion. If an object is not moving in a circular path, there is no centripetal force acting on it.

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