IIT JEE , AIEEE Forum - Physics , Mechanics - What is centrifugal force and centripetal force,when do they apply,plzz explain in detail

ramyani

1. Centripetal force is a force requirement, not a particular kind of force. Any force (gravitational, electromagnetic, etc.) can act as a centripetal force.

From Newton's second law of motion F = ma, a physical force F must be applied to a mass m to produce this acceleration. The amount of force needed to move at speed v on a circle of radius r is:

$\mathbf{F}_c = -\frac{m v^2}{r} \hat{\mathbf{r}} = -\frac{m v^2}{r} \frac{\mathbf{r}}{r} = -m \omega^2 \mathbf{r} = -m \boldsymbol\omega \times (\boldsymbol\omega \times \boldsymbol r )$

2. The centrifugal force is a fictitious force that arises from being in a rotating reference frame. To eliminate all such fictitious forces, one needs to be in a non-accelerating reference frame, i.e., in an inertial reference frame. Only then can one safely use Newton's laws of motion, such as F = ma.

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