Can we model fictitious forces using vectors?

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flyingpig
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Homework Statement



Let's say that you are on a Ferris Wheel or you are spinning a Yo-yo horizontally in a circle. There is a fictitous force known as centrifuge force that is pushing the car or yo-yo outwards.
However, the centripetal force that is keeping it in tact, is a vector pointing towards the center. We know that F [tex]\alpha[/tex] a, so even though centrifuge is a fictitious force, how come the "vector" of it is opposite to that of centripetal acceleration?

The Attempt at a Solution



I have been pondering this question for 3 days...

For the yoyo case, would to be just the tension?

T = [tex]\stackrel{mv²}{r}[/tex]

Also, I read a proof on how centripetal acceleration is derived, but why do we always neglect the negative sign in the formula a = [tex]\stackrel{-|v²|}{r}[/tex]
 
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Ignoring the rotation of the Earth itself you are an inertial observer when you look at a spinning yo-yo. There is no need to invoke a centrifugal force in this case. There is no centrifugal force in this case.

Centrifugal force are needed to force-fit Newton's laws to the domain of rotating reference frames (a domain in which Newton's laws do not truly apply).
 
D H said:
Ignoring the rotation of the Earth itself you are an inertial observer when you look at a spinning yo-yo. There is no need to invoke a centrifugal force in this case. There is no centrifugal force in this case.

Centrifugal force are needed to force-fit Newton's laws to the domain of rotating reference frames (a domain in which Newton's laws do not truly apply).

Ferris Wheel case?
 
So I still don't get it...