Difference between Centrifugal Force and Centripetal Force

By Ruchika|Updated : May 24th, 2023

The difference between centrifugal force and centripetal force is that the former makes the object move in a circular motion and the latter makes the object move in a circular motion. Both are important forces in physics are important to understand the way forces apply to objects. The formula to calculate both is the same which is Fc = mv2/r. Apart from this, both centrifugal force and centripetal force have many differences as well.

Table of Content

1. Centrifugal Force and Centripetal Force
2. Distinction between Centrifugal Force and Centripetal Force
3. Difference between centrifugal force and centripetal force

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Centrifugal Force and Centripetal Force

Centrifugal force was discovered by Christiaan Huygens and Centripetal Force was discovered by Isaac Newton. Both these forces are important concepts of physics that help us understand how objects move and how the force is exerted to make them move a certain way.

Centrifugal force is the result of inertia and is not actually a force. This force results in the object moving in a circular motion. Centripetal force is the force that keeps an object moving in a path that is circular in motion.

Distinction between Centrifugal Force and Centripetal Force

There are many differences between centrifugal force and centripetal force. Even though they can be calculated using the same formula, i.e., Fc = mv2/r, there are many distinctions between the two that are tabulated below.

Centrifugal force	Centripetal Force
It always tries to push a body away from the center or circular motion.	It can be defined as the force that causes a body to move in a circular motion.
Centrifugal force is caused by an object's energy	It is caused by gravitation or electrostatic tension or force.
It is not a real force.	It is a real force.
It points away from the center.	It points towards the center.
It causes the body to do a circular motion.	It forces body into a circular motion.

Summary:

Difference between centrifugal force and centripetal force

There are many differences between centrifugal force and centripetal force. Centrifugal force is the force in which the object moves in a circular motion. Centripetal force makes the object move in a circular motion. The centrifugal force is not the real force whereas the centripetal force is a real force.

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