A couple of commenters expressed concern over the use of centrifugal force after my rant on the use of the word force. So, what is the deal with these two terms? Are they ok to use? Are they real ...

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: dwphotos Getty Images Centripetal and centrifugal forces are two terms used to describe ...

It's odd that I have talked about these forces so much. First, I talked about how centrifugal forces were not real and the difference between centrifugal and centripetal forces. Then I talked about ...

Have you ever thrown your spare change into a coin vortex like the one we used to have in the gift shop at ECHO? When you put a coin in this, the coin spins around and around until eventually it ...

When humanity first started studying motion, circles posed a peculiar puzzle. Why do planets sweep endlessly around the Sun without flying off into the void of space? Why does a stone swung on a ...

I first learned in high school physics about the myth of centrifugal force. On paper and in theory, it’s a very real force, one that pulls you away from something. The term comes up in the automotive ...

All of the objects in our solar system are acted upon by forces. Forces are pushes or pulls. Every force has both a strength and a direction. Applying a force on something–like pushing a toy car–can ...

Learn the key differences between centripetal and centrifugal forces, their real-world applications in physics, and how they shape our understanding of circular motion. When you purchase through links ...