The Mystery of Pseudo/Inertial Forces: Explained

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the terminology of pseudo forces and their classification as inertial forces, particularly in the context of non-inertial reference frames. Participants explore the conceptual connections to Newtonian physics and the implications of these forces in various scenarios.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question why pseudo forces are referred to as inertial forces despite their association with non-inertial frames.
  • One participant suggests that the term "inertial" may be used to connect pseudo forces to Newtonian physics, similar to how centripetal acceleration is integrated into the framework.
  • Another participant proposes that pseudo forces are termed "inertial" because they arise from the tendency of objects to move inertially, with the implication that coordinate accelerations in non-inertial frames lead to the assignment of pseudo-forces proportional to mass.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the terminology and conceptual understanding of pseudo forces, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions regarding the definitions and implications of pseudo forces and inertial frames, as well as the assumptions underlying their classification.

NEILS BOHR
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Why are pseudo forces also sometimes called INERTIAL FORCES , even though their need arises because of non inertial frames??:confused:
 
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My guess would be because it was the only way to connect them to Newtonian physics such as how centripetal acceleration gets plug in.
 
NEILS BOHR said:
Why are pseudo forces also sometimes called INERTIAL FORCES , even though their need arises because of non inertial frames??:confused:
They are called "inertial", because they are a consequence of the tendency to move inertially. In non-inertial frames this inertial movement implies coordinate accelerations. Only for massive objects we can then assign a pseudo-force proportional to mass to them.
 
Last edited:
hmmm
ok thanks for ur answers!
 

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