Does centrifugal force exist ? What about centripetal force ? ELI5 reaches berate velocity. (np.reddit.com)
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8 ups - 0 downs = 8 votes
12 comments submitted at 19:33:18 on Oct 27, 2014 by houad
Does centrifugal force exist ? What about centripetal force ? ELI5 reaches berate velocity. (np.reddit.com)
SubredditDrama
8 ups - 0 downs = 8 votes
12 comments submitted at 19:33:18 on Oct 27, 2014 by houad
I'm so sorry.
You're a madmen houad!
It is common to use non-inertial reference frames for rotating systems and talk about centrifugal forces. Is Dakrys' point just that they're technically "virtual forces"? Does this matter at all? No.
Yeah its kinda like saying there's no gravitational forces in the middle of a large sphere.
Well... He's right. It's one of the first things I learned in 6th grade, I remember being confused.
Without taking a side in the debate, things you learn in 6th grade have a tendency to range between "grossly simplified" and "completely wrong", especially in the sciences.
Not in this case, apparently.
To summarise why saying that "centrifugal force doesn't exist" is true but can legitimately be perceived as exaggerate (both opinions hold really) :
The "centrifugal force" that you perceive if you're in a rotating vehicle (for example) is actually your escape momentum, caused by the rotation movement. The actual force that acts on you is the vehicle's reaction to this momentum, which is centripetal (it's the force that keeps you in rotation).
The mere fact that you perceive a centrifugal force means that it exists in some way (at this point it's more a philosophical debate than a scientific one). And in fact if you write down Newton's principle in the rotating referential there is a centrifugal term (the rotating referential is the one where you don't move, so arguably the one you live in — again this is a matter of philosophical debate).
Edit : also you can approach the debate from a different angle and argue that "centrifugal force" is a common phrase that everyone understands while "centripetal force" sounds pedantic and counter-intuitive, especially in a context of vulgarisation. To be honest this kind of debates arises only in vulgarisation, actual scientists generally don't care.
Neato
Isn't it more of an effect rather than a Ford?
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I'm conflicted, because the 'centrifugal force' is nothing more that momentum wanting to keep you moving along the tangent. However, since it is ELI5, it's kinda the exact place where using 'centrifugal force' is actually more appropriate.