Centrifugal Definition and 344 Threads

In Newtonian mechanics, the centrifugal force is an inertial force (also called a "fictitious" or "pseudo" force) that appears to act on all objects when viewed in a rotating frame of reference. It is directed away from an axis which is parallel to the axis of rotation and passing through the coordinate system's origin. If the axis of rotation passes through the coordinate system's origin, the centrifugal force is directed radially outwards from that axis. The magnitude of centrifugal force F on an object of mass m at the distance r from the origin of a frame of reference rotating with angular velocity ω is:

The concept of centrifugal force can be applied in rotating devices, such as centrifuges, centrifugal pumps, centrifugal governors, and centrifugal clutches, and in centrifugal railways, planetary orbits and banked curves, when they are analyzed in a rotating coordinate system.
Confusingly, the term has sometimes also been used for the reactive centrifugal force, a real inertial-frame-independent Newtonian force that exists as a reaction to a centripetal force.

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  1. D

    Centripetal And Centrifugal Forces

    Hi. This isn't a homework problem, but I am asking for the sake of adding to my understanding of the topic. In class, we have just begun uniform circular motion on the horizontal plane. Now, i understand that for an object to be accelerating (changing direction in this case), there needs...
  2. M

    Gravity and centrifugal forces

    If you jumped on an orbital/halo.. Would you carry on flying through the air indefinately or does the centrifugal force push you towards the ground even though you are not in any physical contact with the centrifugalised object?? On a planet we're attracted back towards the ground by gravity...
  3. N

    Centrifugal Gravity: Understanding Its Effects on Objects

    Centrifugal "gravity" Imagine a giant circular ring, which spins to generate a type of "gravity" (think of the video game "halo" even) My problem with this is: 1. A man is walking along this spinning ring. He feels gravitational effects no doubt. 2. The man takes a ball, and tosses it...
  4. M

    Centrifugal (Ficticious) Force problem

    47. In an amusement park ride called the Roundup, passengers stand inside a 16m diameter rotating ring. After the ring has acquired suficient speed, it tilts into a vertical plane. a. suppose the ring rotates once every 4.5 s. If a rider's mass is 55kg, with how much force does the ring pus...
  5. W

    How Does Centrifugal Force Affect Weight on a Curved Train Track?

    A train is running smoothly along a curved track at the rate of 50 m/s. A passenger standing on a set of scales observes that his weight is 10% greater than when the train is at rest. The track is banked so that the force acting on the passenger is normal to the floor of the train. What is the...
  6. R

    Question about centrifugal force and Bernoulli's law.

    What I want to do is maintain a gas at very high pressure and temperature for propulsion purposes. The problem is containing a gas at high pressure requires a thick walled tank, and the resulting mass would obviate the advantage of having the gas at high pressure. So what I'm considering is...
  7. R

    Centrifugal Accelerator-Kinematics Problem

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  8. M

    Axial and centrifugal ventilators

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  9. E

    Is the Universe's Expansion Due to a Hidden Spin?

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  10. M

    How Long Must a Day Be for Weightlessness at the Equator?

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  11. D

    Centrifugal Pressure - Ideal Gas Compressibility Problem

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  12. D

    Centripetal vs centrifugal acceleration

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  13. K

    Centrifugal Vertical Tangential Inertia?

    Hi, first post. I'm a math/physics, uh, underachiever and I'm looking for more resources on Centrifuges. I apologize in advance for the inaccuracy of my use of physics terminology. I'm interested in finding a formula that calculates both the amount of force and angle of force of tangential...
  14. M

    Centripedal & Centrifugal force

    hi, what is difference between Centripedal & Centrifugal ? One is in inertial frames and the other in rotating frames? one is 'true' force and the other is fictitious force? thanks
  15. andrevdh

    Centrifugal force in rotating frame of reference

    Can someone enlighten me why it is mentioned in the thread https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?p=769852" that when the water is viewed from a rotating frame of reference it experiences an outward centrifugal force. This does not make sense to me.
  16. A

    Centrifugal Force and shape of water

    "Centrifugal" Force Say you have a cylinder of radius r with πr2h liters of water in it. If you put it on some sort of turntable and spin it with an angular velocity ω, is there a way to tell what the shape of the water will be? I mean, if you look at the cross section will you be able to...
  17. G

    Calculating Centrifugal Force for 300KG Object in 5m Radius Circle

    Hi, I'm attempting to workout what is the G-force applied to an object that is traveling at 1 m/s/s in a perfect circle with a radius of 5m. The circle is verticle not horizontal. The total weight being propelled is 300KG and is running on the inside of a track. There is no air resistance or...
  18. S

    Explain Centripetal & Centrifugal Force to Inanics

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  19. R

    Centrifugal force for supporting vacuum chamber walls?

    My aerospace application requires a very lightweight vacuum chamber. Could you rotate a cylindrical chamber about its vertical axis to provide outward pressure to support the pressure of the air? How fast would it have to rotate to provide an outward pressure of 15 lbs./sq. in.? The initial...
  20. N

    Centrifugal Force: Explaining Equations

    Centrifugal force? Hi people, Can someone explain to me what is centrifugal force? Please tell me the equations related to it. I have tried by best to calculate it, but I have drawn a blank.
  21. F

    Centrifugal Force: Tension in String w/ Mass in Horizontal Circle

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  22. G

    What Are the Parameters for Creating 1G to 5G Forces in a Rotational Machine?

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  23. C

    Centripetal and Centrifugal Forces

    In class, I was told that the "centrifugal force" is merely an effect, and I can dig that. However, isn't the supposed "centripetal force" in actuality also merely an effect?
  24. M

    Is Centrifugal Force a Real Force in Circular Motion?

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  25. L

    Calc. r & Compare Centrifugal & Magnet Force

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  26. P

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    Ok so I'm reading up on some physical (no that's probably not the right word, enlighten me!) phenomenas in this case the tides. So as far as I've understood the water on the surface towards the moon is affected both by Earth's gravity (which is bigger) and the moon's, and therefore positions...
  27. Chi Meson

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  28. A

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  29. D

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  30. B

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  31. J

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    I have a tool that is used in CNC metal cutting machines. This tool rotates and we have a machine that calculates the amount of immbalance. The known values are, rpm, amount of imbalance (gmm), diameter. I'm trying to find a formula that calculates the centrifugal force that is generated...
  32. JasonRox

    Centrifugal Forces Someone explain, please.

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  33. E

    Understanding Centrifugal Force & Work on a Spool of Thread

    Here is another problem I'm having trouble understanding: A narrow but solid spool of thread has radius R and mass M. If you pull up on the thread so that the center of mass of the spool remains suspended in the air at the same place, (a) what force must you exert on the thread? (b) How much...
  34. H

    Calculating Centrifugal Force for 200 Grams at 100 mph and 4' Radius

    I have a simple math problem. I know the basic formula, but am too far removed from math lessons(50 years of age) to figure it out. I know you require like units to derive an answer. A 200 gram object is rotated around a 4' radius at 100 mph. What is the centrifugal force? I know(at least...
  35. A

    Understanding the Truth Behind Centrifugal Force

    Hello guys! Back in my first physics class in college, a few years ago, my prof said that centrifugal force does not exist, and something about there is something called the centrifugal force effect that we seem to think we feel, but it really is centripetal force. I took this as physics...
  36. A

    Centrifugal Force: Facts & Equations

    Hello guys! Back in my first physics class in college, a few years ago, my prof said that centrifugal force does not exist, and something about there is something called the centrifugal force effect that we seem to think we feel, but it really is centripetal force. I took this as physics...
  37. M

    An unsafe experiment with centrifugal force

    http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/2004/01/19/news/local_news/news2.prt
  38. Loren Booda

    Is the centrifugal force fictitious or just incidental?

    Is the "centrifugal force" fictitious or just incidental? Is the "centrifugal force" fictitious or just incidental?
  39. R

    How can the satellite have an centrifugal force?

    Imagine a universe with nothing in it exept for the earth. Now if you were to put a satalite up in space with a geosyncronized orbit, the gravity of Earth would not pull the object down. but how can that happen if the Earth is not spinning? At least not spinning relative to anything(because...
  40. A

    Centrifugal Force: What Is It?

    is there such a thing as centrifugal force? what is it?
  41. A

    Is there such a term as centrifugal force?

    is there such a term as centrifugal force? what exactly is it??
  42. M

    Centripetal versus centrifugal explained

    can someone please compare and contrast the phenomenon of the centripetal force versus the centrifugal force.
  43. A

    Centirpetal And Centrifugal Forces

    Centripetal and centrifugal forces What do you think about the following division, i.e. distinction between centripetal and centrifugal forces? gravipetal-gravifugal electropetal-electrofugal magnetopetal-magnetofugal nucleopetal-nucleofugal cohesipetal-cohesifugal Every known...
  44. C

    How does inertia prevent soldiers from falling out of a turning helicopter?

    Ok, for some reason, I cannot understand exactly how centrifugal force works or the concept behind it. For example, when an Army helicopter is flying through the air and turns, why don't the soldiers slide towards the door or even fall out? Because I know that military choppers do not contain...
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