What is Centrifugal Force?

Centrifugal force is a force that acts on the object when it is in a circular motion. It is a pseudo force that seems to act outwardly on a mass moving in a circular path. This force has the same magnitude as a centripetal force but in the opposite direction.

The formula for centrifugal force is,

F = mv²/r

• where m is the mass,
• ω is the angular velocity, and
• r is the radius of the circle.

Facts about Centripetal Force

• Centrifugal force is considered fictitious because it results from the rotation of the observer’s frame of reference, not from any physical interaction or external force.
• This force seems to push objects outward from the center of rotation. For example, when you take a sharp turn in a car, you feel pushed against the door.
• Despite being fictitious, centrifugal force has practical implications, such as in designing roads and amusement rides to counteract these forces.

Centrifugal force and centripetal force are two important forces associated with circular motion. Centripetal force pulls objects towards the center of a circle, keeping them in orbit. Centrifugal force appears to push objects away from the center due to their rotation.

In this article, we will learn the difference between centrifugal force and centripetal force in detail.