Centripetal vs. Centrifugal Force
Difference between Centripetal and Centrifugal Force: – The world and the universe as a whole work in a way that we often do not clearly understand.
For example, there are forces that trigger different kinds of reactions for which we do not always find a logical explanation.
To better understand our reality it is necessary that at least we know some of the forces that act on it and that are responsible for conforming to it. So let’s explain the difference between centripetal force and centrifugal force; so that you can better understand some processes that you may not know very well how and why they are carried out.
Difference between Centripetal and Centrifugal Force
Centrifugal Force
This force is the one that describes the tendency of an object to follow a curve out of the center. The same is not really a force, but the result of inertia.
It also expresses the tendency of objects to resist change when they are in their state of rest or movement.
When it comes to this circular force, the objects take the following direction: they move along the radius of the circle, but from the center outwards.
The formula for calculating the centrifugal force is Fc = mv2 / r.
The name of this force is due to Christiaan Huygens, who in 1659 defined it.
An example of centrifugal force is when a group of children play in the roundabout and are thrown out.
Centripetal Force
On the other hand, centripetal force is a “real” force that counteracts centrifugal force and prevents objects from flying out of their place;
keeping them in motion instead of just subjecting them to uniform velocity along a curve.
That is when it comes to this force the objects move inwards not outwards.
The discovery of this force is another of the contributions that we can thank Isaac Newton, who in 1684 defined it.
The formula to calculate centripetal force is Fc = mv2 / r.
An example of centripetal force is when a satellite orbits a planet.
Anyhow the key difference between centripetal and centrifugal force is centripetal force tends to attract objects towards the center or inside, while centrifugal force is characterized by pushing those outwards.
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