Rotation and centrifugal force

[member 529879]

what is the cause of the centrifugal force from the perspective of the rotating observer? Also is rotation relative like linear motion?

 

[OldEngr63]

Centrifugal force is never actually a force (it has no 3rd law reaction). It is always a mass x acceleration term.

Yes, rotation is relative like linear motion.

 

[Dale]

Yes, rotation is relative like linear motion.

Rotation is not relative. You can unambiguously determine how fast a reference frame is rotating without reference to any other frame. For example, you can use a gimbaled gyroscope or a ring interferometer.

 

[FactChecker]

It's easiest to consider rotation to be absolute by considering the universe to be stationary. But Einstein did not like that any coordinate system was preferred over another. Consider the example of a person on a merry-go-round. Einstein's General Relativity Theory allows us to consider the entire universe to be rotating around a stationary merry-go-round. His theory creates a distortion of space that pulls objects away from the center of the merry-go-round. (I believe this has only been calculated with a greatly simplified model of the universe.) This is very satisfying theoretically, but it is not a practical way of looking at rotation.

 

[PJC01]

Rotation and centrifugal force are two concepts that are closely related and are often discussed in the field of physics. Centrifugal force is a fictitious force that appears to act on an object when it is in a rotating frame of reference. It is often described as the force that pushes objects away from the center of rotation.

From the perspective of the rotating observer, the centrifugal force is caused by the inertia of the object. Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. In the case of rotation, the object has a natural tendency to continue moving in a straight line, but due to the rotation, it is forced to move in a circular path. This causes the object to experience a force that is directed away from the center of rotation, which is known as the centrifugal force.

The concept of rotation is relative, just like linear motion. This means that the perception of rotation depends on the frame of reference from which it is observed. For example, if you are sitting on a spinning chair, you will feel like you are rotating, but to an observer outside the room, you are just sitting still. Similarly, the magnitude and direction of the centrifugal force also depend on the observer's frame of reference.

In conclusion, the centrifugal force is caused by the inertia of the object in a rotating frame of reference. The concept of rotation is relative, and the perception of rotation and the centrifugal force depend on the observer's frame of reference. These concepts play a crucial role in understanding the behavior of objects in a rotating system and have various applications in fields such as engineering and astronomy.