Fictitious vs. Reactive Force
The table below compares various facets of the "fictitious force" and "reactive force" concepts of centrifugal force
| Fictitious centrifugal force | Reactive centrifugal force | |
|---|---|---|
| Reference frame |
Non-inertial frames | Any |
| Exerted by |
Acts as if emanating from the rotation axis, but no real source |
Bodies moving in curved paths |
| Exerted upon |
All bodies, moving or not; if moving, Coriolis force also is present |
The object(s) causing the curved motion, not upon the body in curved motion |
| Direction | Away from rotation axis, regardless of path of body |
Opposite to the centripetal force causing curved path |
| Analysis | Kinetic: included as force in Newton's laws of motion |
Kinematic: related to centripetal force |
Read more about this topic: Centrifugal Force
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