Re: centrifugal force (cont)

[Rick Tarara <rtarara@SAINTMARYS.EDU>]

Not really.  True, it is a force that was directed away from the center of
the rotation, but it lasted only for a very short time.  Your brother's
experience will be that of a normal 'push' with the agent quite clear to
him.  His rotational motion ceases once he 'leaves' the platform.  I don't
see any value in labeling this force as centrifugal although it probably
fits the technical definition.

Rick

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Richard W. Tarara
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, Indiana
rtarara@saintmarys.edu
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Cohen" <Robert.Cohen@PO-BOX.ESU.EDU>
To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
Sent: Friday, December 13, 2002 9:47 AM
Subject: Re: centrifugal force (cont)


> My brother and I are on a rotating platform (like the kind at
playgrounds).  While it is spinning, I push my brother off by exerting a
force on him directed away from the center.  Is this a real centrifugal
force?
>