Astronomy Answers: From the Astronomical Dictionary

Astronomy Answers
From the Astronomical Dictionary


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The description of the word you requested from the astronomical dictionary is given below.

the centrifugal force

The centrifugal force is a force that points away from the center of the curve that you're taking. The centrifugal force pushes you to the side of the car away from the center of the curve that the car is taking, pushes you to the outer edge of a merry-go-round that you're on, and pushes your laundry against the inside of the rim of your washing machine when it is spinning fast. The centrifugal force is a virtual force, of which the strength depends on your speed and on the diameter of the curve. The opposite force is the centripetal force.