Lesson
Angular Kinetics - Cetripetal and Centrifugal Forces
CENTRIPETAL FORCE (center-seeking force) prevents a rotating body from
leaving its circular path while rotating around a fixed axis. The direction of
Centripetal Force is always towards the center of rotation.
When rounding a corner in a car, there is a sensation of being pushed
towards the outside of the curve. This feeling is referred to as CENTRIFUGAL
FORCE, a fictitious force which might more appropriately be described as the
absence of centripetal force acting on an object.