Wild
Wednesday Centrifugal and Centripetal
Here we go
with two very similar sounding words that we need to know because they are
involved in many things a dancers does – like turning! Plus it is especially
interesting for science nerds (like me).
What is the difference between
centrifugal force and centripetal force? According to Fouad A. Saad https://www.livescience.com/52488-centrifugal-centripetal-forces.html
: “Centripetal force (from the Latin, “center fleeing”)is the inward-seeking
pull of an object. Centrifugal force
is the opposite; it appears to pull
objects away from the center or axis of rotation.”
Perhaps a better explanation
is from
“Centripetal force is a real force that
counteracts the centrifugal force and prevents the object from "flying
out," keeping it moving instead with a uniform speed along a circular
path.”
In other word, one might say that centrifugal
force is a fake force (notice the word “appears” in the definition in the
second paragraph above). Confused yet?
Here is a great little chart from the
same source:
Centrifugal Force
|
Centripetal Force
|
Meaning
|
Tendency of an object following a
curved path to fly away from the center of curvature. Might be described as
“lack of centripetal force.”
|
The force that keeps an object
moving with a uniform speed along a circular path.
|
Direction
|
Along the radius of the circle,
from the center towards the object.
|
Along the radius of the circle,
from the object towards the center.
|
Example
|
Mud flying off a tire; children
pushed out on a roundabout.
|
Satellite orbiting a planet
|
Formula
|
Fc = mv2/r
|
Fc = mv2/r
|
Defined
by
|
Chistiaan Hygens in 1659
|
Isaac Newton in 1684
|
Is
it a real force?
|
No; centrifugal force is the
inertia of motion.
|
Yes; centripetal force keeps the
object from "flying out".
|
Now you
know!
From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets
Secret #21vv:
“The
difference between Centrifugal force and Centripetal force is helpful to understand.”
Links of the Day (for all science
nerds!):
Quote of the Day:
“The law of centrifugal force seems to be as true for the human condition
as it is for the Newtonian mechanics. The faster our lives spin, the more
things tend to fly apart.”
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