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For the pseudoforce that appears with a noninertial, rotating frame of reference see centrifugal force (fictitious)

A centrifugal force refers to a force which is generated by a rotation and acts away from the axis of rotation. It is the reaction force to a centripetal force.

A mass undergoing a curved path acceleration experiences a centrifugal force acting outwards from the center of curvature. Although this sense was used by Isaac Newton, it is only occasionally used in modern discussions.

Reactive centrifugal force

A car with a passenger inside driving around a curve provides an example of the reactive centrifugal force. Viewed from an inertial frame of reference, the passenger's inertia resists acceleration, keeping the passenger moving with constant speed and direction as the car begins to turn. From this point of view, the passenger does not gravitate toward the outside of the path which the car follows; instead, the car's path curves to meet the passenger.

Once the car contacts the passenger, it then applies a sideways force to accelerate him or her around the turn with the car. This force is called a centripetal ("center seeking") force because its vector changes direction to continue to point toward the center (precisely, the center of curvature) of the car's arc as the car traverses it.

If the car is acting upon the passenger, then the passenger must be acting upon the car with an equal and opposite force. Being opposite, this reaction force is directed away from the center, therefore centrifugal. It is critical to realize that this centrifugal force acts upon the car, not the passenger.

The centrifugal reaction force with which the passenger pushes back against the door of the car is given by:

${\displaystyle \mathbf {F} _{\mathrm {centrifugal} }\,}$	${\displaystyle =-m\mathbf {a} _{\mathrm {centripetal} }\,}$
	${\displaystyle =m\omega ^{2}\mathbf {r} _{\perp }\,}$

where ${\displaystyle m}$ is the mass of the rotating object, ${\displaystyle \omega }$ the rotational speed (in radians per unit time), and ${\displaystyle r}$ the radius from the center of curvature.

The reactive centrifugal force is a real force, but the term is rarely used in modern discussions.

Confusion and misconceptions

Centrifugal force can be a confusing term because it is used (or misused) in more than one instance, and because sloppy labelling can obscure which forces are acting upon which objects in a system. When diagramming forces in a system, one must describe each object separately, attaching only those forces acting upon it (not forces that it exerts upon other objects).

Applications

• A centrifugal governor regulates the speed of an engine by using spinning masses that respond to centrifugal force generated by the engine. If the engine increases in speed, the masses move and trigger a cut in the throttle.
• A centrifugal clutch is used in small engine powered devices such as chain saws, go-karts and model helicopters. It allows the engine to start and idle without driving the device but automatically and smoothly engages the drive as the engine speed rises.
• Centrifugal forces can be used to generate artificial gravity. Proposals have been made to have gravity generated in space stations designed to rotate. The Mars Gravity Biosatellite will study the effects of Mars level gravity on mice with simulated gravity from centrifugal force.
• Centrifuges are used in science and industry to separate substances by their relative masses.
• Some amusement park rides make use of centrifugal forces. For instance, a Gravitron’s spin forces riders against a wall and allows riders to be elevated above the machine’s floor in defiance of Earth’s gravity.
• Spin casting and centrifugal casting are production methods that uses centrifugal force to disperse liquid metal or plastic throughout the negative space of a mold.

See also

• Circular motion
• Coriolis force
• Centripetal force
• Rotational motion

References

1. Gravity book 2
2. Comparison of Bearings
3. High Technology Gyroplane
4. Hitachi News
5. http://physnet.org/modules/pdf_modules/m17.pdf ACCELERATION AND FORCE IN CIRCULAR MOTION by Peter Signell
6. Book I, Section II: Of the Invention of Centripetal Forces
7. http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0811114.html
8. Microsoft Word - Comparison of Bearings.doc
9. High Tech Gyro, AHS 2000 on CarterAviationTechnologies.com

• Newton's description in Principia
• Centrifugal reaction force - Columbia electronic encyclopedia
• M. Alonso and E.J. Finn, Fundamental university physics, Addison-Wesley
• Centripetal force vs. Centrifugal force - from an online Regents Exam physics tutorial by the Oswego City School District
• Centrifugal force acts inwards near a black hole

External links

• Centripetal and Centrifugal Forces at MathPages
• Centrifugal Force at h2g2

• Force
• Mechanics