What is difference between the centrifugal and centripetal force?
The difference is due to difference in the Frame of Reference chosen to analyze the problem. Let’s take the example of circular motion of a stone tied to the string being moved in a circle of a certain fixed radius. In the frame of reference of the ground, the stone is moving in a circular path i.e. There must be a force acting on the stone to continuously change it’s path / direction of motion. This we can show to act towards the centre of the circle and hence the name Centripetal Force. In the frame of the stone or an observer sitting on the stone, the reference frame is a non-inertial one. Now in order to apply Newton’s Laws the observer must use a Pseudo – force which in this case is the Centrifugal force. To find its direction the observer would think that for him to be at rest (all observers think so!!!) there must be a force that is balancing the tension in the string. As the tension always acts radially inwards, this balancing force will act radially outward at all times during
