What is Centrifugal: Definition and 342 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. R

    Setting up a centrifugal force question

    Suppose we have a merry-go-round of radius 10 meters. There's a thin glass tube with cross-sectional density d going radially from the center of the merry-go-round to the edge. In the glass tube one meter away from the center, there's a marble of mass m. The merry-go-round completes one...
  2. F

    Use of centrifugal force in outer-space

    Reading the Arthur C. Clarke novel: "Rendezvous with Rama"; something keeps nagging me about the descriptions of their experience inside the ship they encounter, which is a huge, rotating, hollow cylinder. It's rotation makes a sort of "pseudo-gravity" by way of centrifugal force. The issue I'm...
  3. A

    Cetripetal and Centrifugal forces: points of action

    1. Do centripetal and centrifugal act on same body or on different bodies?? I am told that if a stone tied to one end of the string is revolved around its another end(fixed), centripetal force acts on stone and centrifugal force acts on the fixed end of the string. The Attempt at a Solution I...
  4. J

    Centrifugal force question

    Calculate the centrifugal acceleration associated with a.) The rotation of the Earth around its axis, as measured on the equator b.) The Earth moving around the Earth-Sun centre of mass. Assume the orbit is circular c._ The Sun moving around the Earth-Sun centre of mass. Same assumption as...
  5. H

    Rotation problem - centrifugal forces

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  6. G

    Gravity vs Centrifugal Effect

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  7. S

    How do you separate things from centrifugal force?

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  8. A

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  9. B

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  10. A

    Fluid under centrifugal force (Basic)

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  11. M

    Centrifugal Force: Is it Radially Outwards?

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  12. A

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  13. B

    Centrifugal Force on a Bucket of Water

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  14. C

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  15. R

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  16. R

    Calculating Centrifugal Force of a Car on a Curved Road

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  17. O

    Centrifugal Force - Is It Real?

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  18. Nabeshin

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  19. Z

    Centrifugal and centripetal force question: race-car and banked curve question

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  20. R

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  21. S

    Calculate Centrifugal Force to Simulate Earth's Gravity

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  22. L

    Centrifugal Force and Angular Velocity

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  23. W

    What is the Apparent Weight of an Astronaut Running in a Centrifugal Spaceship?

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  24. D

    Can Satellites Measure Earth's Geode Using Velocity Instead of Position?

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  25. M

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  26. W

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  27. B

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  28. S

    Is Reactive Centrifugal Force the Correct Term in Physics?

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  29. S

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  30. L

    Space Elevator and Centrifugal Force

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  31. RonL

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  32. A

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  33. R

    When did centrifugal force die?

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  34. A

    The Physics of Roulette: Exploring Centrifugal Force

    I am reposting this post because i forgot I had already posted a topic with the same subject, I study physics at uni, but spend my weekends down the casino on the roulette table. I tried to explain to my friend that the reason roulette works is that the centrepetal force of the ball is great...
  35. B

    Centrifugal force and those Mike Rowe Ford Truck Commercials

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  36. T

    Why did the pipe start to rotate when released?

    I attached a string to the center point of one end of a 2 foot length of steel pipe, and then while holding the loose end of the string overhead I swung the pipe in a circle. When I released the string the pipe flew off in a straight line as I expected, but what I didn't expect was, the pipe...
  37. N

    Do Centrifugal and Centripetal Forces Exist in Outer Space?

    I've heard recently that centrifugal "force" doesn't exist. If this is true what is the actual force that creates the centrifugal effect? Also, do centrifugal and centripetal effects/forces exist in outer space, i.e. on space shuttle. Thanks
  38. M

    How can the moment of inertia of a single inlet centrifugal fan be calculated?

    Hi, i need to know how to calculate the moment of inertia of a centrifugal fan. I searched the forum but didint find any formula... So please people help me
  39. N

    Is Centrifugal Force Real or a Pseudo Force?

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  40. C

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  41. A

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    Good Evening to all, I have been working on the following problem for the past several days and have finally come to the end of my rope. I hate to admit defeat but I do need some help. I'm almost certain I'm simply missing something that's embarassingly simple... This is the problem...
  42. B

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    so here is my questions since the Earth is spinning, wouldn't centrifugal force make us lighter? if we were not spinning would we be heaver? how come i do not have gravity? what is gravity
  43. Z

    Centrifugal Potential & Brachistochrone in Polar Coords: Ideas Appreciated

    Anyone familiar with "centrifugal potential" and "brachistochrone" in polar coords? Hi there, The issue appears within this problem: a bead is sliding without friction on a straight wire; the wire rotates in a plane: \omega= const No external fields, no gravity...
  44. A

    Solving Centrifugal Force Problems: A Helpful Guide for Students

    I have been having trouble with three problems from various homeworks. 1. A 500 g ball swings in a vertical circle at the end of a 1.5-m-long string. When the ball is at the bottom of the circle, the tension in the string is 15 N. What is the speed of the ball at that point? 2.It is...
  45. W

    Centrifugal force and friction

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  46. E

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  47. H

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    Homework Statement A sample of blood is placed in a centrifuge of radius 15.7 cm. The mass of a red corpuscle is 3.09×10-16 kg, and the magnitude of the force required to make it settle out of the plasma is 4.01×10-11 N. At how many revolutions per second should the centrifuge be operated...
  48. T

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  49. D

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    Hi. This isn't a homework problem, but I am asking for the sake of adding to my understanding of the topic. In class, we have just begun uniform circular motion on the horizontal plane. Now, i understand that for an object to be accelerating (changing direction in this case), there needs...
  50. M

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