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Q6.3-5CQ

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Found in: Page 218

### College Physics (Urone)

Book edition 1st Edition
Author(s) Paul Peter Urone
Pages 1272 pages
ISBN 9781938168000

# If centripetal force is directed toward the centre, why do you feel that you are ‘thrown’ away from the centre as a car goes around a curve? Explain.

We feel an outward throw from the centre as a car goes around a curve because of the pseudo force acting in opposition to the acceleration of the car.

See the step by step solution

## Step 1: Definition of centripetal force

The acceleration of a body traveling in a circular route is known as centripetal acceleration. Because velocity is a vector quantity (it has both a magnitude and a direction), as a body moves on a circular path, its direction changes constantly, causing its velocity to vary, resulting in acceleration.

We know that Newton’s law of motion is valid for inertial frames only.

If a frame of reference is accelerated it is not inertial.

So, we have to add a pseudo force is a

$\mathbf{F}\mathbf{=}\mathbf{-}\mathbf{m}\mathbf{}{\mathbf{a}}_{\mathbf{0}}$

## Step 2: Determine the force acting opposite to the acceleration of the car

As Centripetal acceleration acts on the car. We are driving the car so in an accelerated frame of reference. So there will be a pseudo force acting in opposition to the acceleration of the car.

Hence, we feel an outward throw from the centre as a car goes around a curve.

But for an observer outside the car both the forces balance each other.