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 ...

We solve for centripetal acceleration, centripetal force, and tangential velocity. In this Closer Look segment on circular motion, we investigate circular motion and solve for centripetal acceleration ...

Isaac Newton's First Law of Motion states, "A body at rest will remain at rest, and a body in motion will remain in motion unless it is acted upon by an external force." What, then, happens to a body ...

Tugging a small toy with your dog can be a lot of fun—but it’s also a great way to experiment with forces acting on an object. Forces are what scientists call the pushing and pulling on objects. In ...

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 ...

The force exerted on a charge is always perpendicular to the velocity of the charge. The force exerted changes the velocity so the direction of the applied force changes as a result. Overall this ...