centripetal force
nounDefinition of centripetal force
: the force that is necessary to keep an object moving in a curved path and that is directed inward toward the center of rotation
a string on the end of which a stone is whirled about exerts centripetal force on the stone
— compare centrifugal force
Examples of centripetal force in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The centrifugal forces pulling Europe apart would finally overwhelm the centripetal forces binding it together. — Simon Nixon, WSJ, "How the EU Survived the Populist Wave in 2017," 17 Dec. 2017 Such notions, notes a disinterested British official, run up against the centripetal forces that drive many EU countries to remain as close to the core as possible. — The Economist, "Charlemagne: The ghost at the banquetBritain’s planned departure is already changing Brussels," 2 Nov. 2017 Once in space, the wires are unwound by the motor, assisted by the centripetal force of the spinning craft. — The Economist, "Space travelA new way of propelling spacecraft may open up the asteroid belt," 21 Sep. 2017 But: The centripetal force that holds the album together as a form is really starting to wobble. — Ben Ratliff, Esquire, "How 2016 Brought Chaos to Music," 2 Dec. 2016These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'centripetal force.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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