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Re: Centripetal force



The oblate --> prolate transitions of a liquid drop, when the angular
momentum reaches a critical value, is demonstrated by focusing on the
concept of potential, V, not force, F. But F=-grad(V). If the force is
fictitious then the potential must also be declared fictitious. Did
you ever see a reference to a fictitious potential energy?

Is the potential energy of a bead in a rotating straw real or fictitious?
The "fictitious weight" is zero at the axis of rotation, a convenient
reference level. A smart creature in this habitate may discover that the
weight is directly proportional to the distance from that level. But it
will never know, unless it can communicate with the outside world, that
the coefficient of proportionality involves not only the mass but also
the angular velocity. Distant stars are not visible from inside, unless
x-ray astronomy and neutrino astronomy are allowed.