Science Opposites.

A 'tongue in cheek' look at some science this may not be as you believe.

Centrifugal force, don't get yourself in a spin. You may have to think back to front to understand this.

Centrifugal force is just an apparent force, equal and opposite to the centripetal force caused by the inertia of the body.

Fairground rotation pins users to sides

Newton's Three Laws of Motion:-

  • Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.
    The relationship between an object's mass m, its acceleration a, and the applied force F is F = ma.
  • Acceleration and force are vectors (as indicated by their symbols being displayed in slant bold font);
    in this law the direction of the force vector is the same as the direction of the acceleration vector. Remember: Forces do not cause motion. Forces cause accelerations. So if a pen is stationary on a table and you push it it will accelerate from stationary to the speed you push at.
  • For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

See how the users are pinned to the sides on this fairground ride...

It's really the sides of the ride pulling them in towards the centre and their own inertia trying to keep them moving in a straight line. This is centripetal force. This is related to Newton's Three Laws of Motion

On the Fairground swings the users appear to be swung outwards, but again it is really the swing fastenings which are pulling them in towards the centre.

Farground Ride. Move your mouse cursor over to view a closeup

Fairground Ride. Move your mouse cursor over to view a close up

Although it may appear that the riders are being thrown outwards.

The Inertia of the riders actually causes them to try to travel in a straight line. The fastening of the ride forcing the riders toward the centre that is centripetal force.

Another classic place centrifugal force is said to occur is in a spin dryer:-

Spin dryer Move your mouse cursor over
to view a symbolic how centripetal force occurs.

Although it may appear that the water is thrown outwards. Once again the water actually try's to travel in a straight line. The curve of the inner drum forcing the wet cloths toward the centre that is centripetal force.

A few centrifugal force related links:-

Wikipedia Centrifugal force Newton Centripetal vs. Centrifugal Forces Centripetal vs. Centrifugal force & the Solar System
Physics forums centripetal versus centrifugal Centripetal force and centrifugal force Centripetal vs. Centrifugal Force?
Frames of Reference: The Centrifugal Force Newton's Three Laws of Motion  

 

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