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Centripetal and Centrifugal Force - Differences, Definition and Formula
A force 1s @ pull or push that acts on an object or a thing. The examples of force are
gravitational force, frictional force, magnetic force, applied force etc. The force makes an
object to change its position, direction or speed. Newton (N) is the SI unit of force.
There are two ways to represent a force Balanced and Unbalanced Forces
* Balanced forces are forces acting on an object or a person from opposite directions
that have equal force. These objects with balanced forces acting upon them will
most likely be still such that are not moving
+ Unbalanced forces are forces acting on an object or a person from opposite
directions that are not equal. These objects with unbalanced forces acting upon
them are in motion such that they are moving.Vedaniti,
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300N 300N
RRR RRR
400N
RRR RRR
The Tug-of-War in the above image is a draw no one is winning or losing, and they are
called balanced force. The Tug-Of-War in the above image shows the Left side people
winning because they have more force than on the right side and this is called an
unbalanced force
Now let's discuss the three laws of force, Newton's law of force will help us understand the
following concept better.
Newton’s First Law of Motion:
“Every object persists in its state of rest or uniform motion (maving) in a straight line
unless it is compelled to change that state by forces executed on it.”
Newton's first law clearly states that every object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in
a straight line unless compelled to change its state under the action of an external force
This is usually taken as the definition of inertia. The key ingredient is that if there is no net
force (total force) acting on an object (if all the external forces cance! each other out) then
the object will maintain a constant velocity.
If that velocity is zero, then the object or a person remains at rest. When an external force
is applied, the velocity will change because of the forceVedaniti,
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An object at rest suUnless acted on by an
will remain at restive unbalanced force.
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An object in bade a smUnless acted on by an
continue with constant unbalanced force.
speed and direction.
Newton’s Second Law of Motion:
"The Force is equal to the change in momentum (motion of a moving body) per change in
time. For a constant mass, force equals acceleration times the mass.”
The second law explains how the velocity of an object or a person changes when it is
subjected to an extemal force. Newton also developed the calculus of mathematics, and
the "changes" expressed in this law are most accurately defined in differential forms. (The
Calculus can also be used to calculate the velocity experienced by an object subjected to
an extemal force.) For an object with a constant mass m, the second law states that the
force F is the product of an object's mass (person's mass) and its acceleration aVedaniti,
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Mass Acceleration
Force . —»>
Speed Increases
More Mass y
a Less Acceleration
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id Increases
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F =m“ a, where F- force, m — the mass of the body, a acceleration
For an extemally applied force, the change in velocity depends on the mass of the object.
A force will cause a change in the velocity; and likewise, where there is a change in
velocity will generate a force.
Let us take a case, where a force applied to an object at rest causes it to accelerate in the
direction of the force. However, if the object is already in motion, or if this situation is seen
from a moving reference frame, that body might appear to, slow down, speed up, or
change its direction depending on the direction of the force, and the directions in which the
object and reference frame is moving are relative to each other.
Newton's Third Law of Motion:Vedaniti,
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reaction
action 2
Newton's third law states that, for every action (force), there is an equal and opposite
reaction (force). The third law states that for every action such that force in nature there is
an equal and opposite reaction. In other words, if an object XYZ exerts a force on object
ABC, then object ABC also exerts an equal force on an object XYZ. Notice that these
forces are exerted on different objects. The third law is the examples of the generation of
lift by a wing and the production of thrust by a jet engine.
In the above figure, the balloon goes, and air goes down clearly explains the third law by
showing every action has an equal and opposite reaction
With the above concepts, we have understood the basics required for centripetal force
and centrifugal force
Centripetal Force and Centrifugal Force:Vedaniti,
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Centrifugal force is present everywhere in our daily lives. We experience it when going
around a comer in a car or when an airplane comes into a turn. We see it in the washing
machine spins a cycle or when you take a ride on a merry-go-round. We never know, one
day it may even provide artificial gravity for space ships and space stations.
Some people get confused with centrifugal force with its counterpart, centripetal force
because they are so closely related. One might say they are two sides of the similar coin
Centripetal force is stated as, ‘The component of force acting on a body in curvilinear
motion, directed toward the center of curvature or axis of rotation,” while centrifugal force
is stated as, “The apparent force, equal and opposite to the centripetal force, pulling a
rotating body away from the center of rotation, caused by the inertia of the body."
Remember that while centripetal force is an actual force, centrifugal force is defined as an
apparent force. in other words, when we twirl a mass on a string, the string exerts an
Inward centnpetal force on the mass, while mass appears to exert an outward force on the
stringVedaniti,
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Immpvabje factors
OF production
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Negative externalia
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The above figure explains the centrifugal force and centripetal force when the car goes
around the comer.
If you are observing and viewing a rotating system from the outside, you see an inward
centripetal force acting to constraint the rotating body to a circular path. in the same way,
If you are part of the rotating system, you experience an apparent centrifugal force which
pushes you away from the center of the circle, even though what you are actually feeling
is the inward centripetal force that keeps you from actually going off on a tangent
The formula for both centrifugal and centripetal force is the same: F = mac = my2ir. where
ac is the centripetal acceleration, m is the mass of the object, moving at velocity 'v' along
with a path with a radius of curvature (r).
By understanding and applying centrifugal and centripetal force is useful to many
problems in our society. One example is related to the design of roads for prevention of
skidding and to improve traction on curves and access ramps of highways. The forces
also were priceless for the invention of the centrifuge. The centrifuge is used to separate
particles suspended in a fluid by spinning the test tubes at higher speedsVedaniti,
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We can say that “These forces are in different directions such that they are in the opposite
direction because they undergo distinctive frames of reference. Even though these forces
are really the exact similar force” This brings us to Newton’s Third Law, which defines,
“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Just as gravity begins you to
exert a force on the ground, the ground appears to give out an equal and opposite force
on your feet. When you are in an accelerating car, the seat exerts a forward force (motion)
on you just as you appear to exert a backward force on the seat. In this case of a rotating
system, the centripetal force pulls the mass inside to follow a curved path, while the mass
appears to push outward due to its inertia. In each of these events, though, there is only
one true force being applied, while the other is only an apparent force
Differentiation Between Centripetal Force and Centrifugal Force:
Centrifugal Force Centripetal force
1. Defined by Christian Huygens in
1659, "Tendency of an object
following a curved path to fly away
from the center of curvature. Might
be described as "lack of centripetal
force.”
1. Defined by Isaac Newton in 1684,
"The force that keeps an object
moving with uniform speed along a
circular path”
2. Formula, : F = mac = mv4/r 2. Formula, : F = mac = mv’/r
3. The direction is along the radius
of the circle, from the center towards
the object
4. Centrifugal force is not a real
force, itis inertia of motion (moving)
5. Example: Mud flying off the wheel
tire.
3. The direction is along the radius
of the circle, from the object towards
the center.
4. Centripetal force is a real force; it
keeps the object from flying out.
5. Example: Satellite orbiting a
planet
Questions:
1. What is a force?
2. Differentiate between Centripetal force and Centrifugal Force?
3. Define Newton's second law and third law of motion?eam UNE Online
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