What is the Difference Between Centripetal and Centrifugal Acceleration?

The main difference between centripetal and centrifugal forces lies in their directions and the frames of reference from which they are observed. Here are the key differences:

Centripetal Force: This is the force acting on an object in curvilinear motion, directed towards the axis of rotation. It is observed from an inertial frame of reference and is responsible for keeping an object moving in a circular path. Examples of centripetal force include the force of friction between a car's tires and the road, allowing the car to turn around a curve.
Centrifugal Force: This is a pseudo force experienced by an object in circular motion, acting along the radius and directed outwards. It is observed from a non-inertial frame of reference. Centrifugal force is experienced, for example, when riding a merry-go-round and feeling pushed away from the center.

Both centripetal and centrifugal forces are calculated using the same formula: $$F = \frac{mv^2}{r}$$, where F is the force, m is the mass of the object, v is the speed or velocity of the object, and r is the radius of the circular path. However, the centripetal force is real and points towards the center of the circle, while the centrifugal force is a fictitious (imaginary) force experienced by an object during circular motion, with a direction opposite to that of the centripetal acceleration.

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What is the Difference Between Centripetal and Centrifugal Acceleration?

Comparative Table: Centripetal vs Centrifugal Acceleration

Here is a table comparing centripetal and centrifugal acceleration:

Centripetal Acceleration	Centrifugal Acceleration
Acts towards the center of the circular path	Acts away from the center of the circular path
Observed from an inertial frame of reference	Observed from a non-inertial frame of reference
Real force	Pseudo-force
Directed perpendicular to the object's displacement	Directed in the same direction as the object's velocity
Examples:frictional force between tyres and road, normal force in a roller coaster loop, gravitational force for planets orbiting the Sun	Examples:mud flying off a tire, children feeling a force pushing them away from the center of a merry-go-round

Centripetal acceleration is the real force acting on an object in curvilinear motion, directed towards the axis of the circular path. In contrast, centrifugal acceleration is a pseudo-force observed from a non-inertial frame of reference, acting away from the center of the circular path. Both forces can be calculated using the same formula: $$ac = \frac{v^2}{r}$$, where $$ac$$ is the centripetal/centrifugal acceleration, $$m$$ is the mass of the object, and $$v$$ is the tangential velocity.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.