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centripetal force

The definition of centripetal force is what allows something to move in a curved path by pulling whatever is going around in a circle into the middle of the circle.

(noun)

An example of centripetal force is the rotation of the Earth around the Sun.

See centripetal force in Webster's New World College Dictionary

the force tending to pull a thing toward the center of rotation when it is rotating around a center

See centripetal force in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

The component of force acting on a body in curvilinear motion that is directed toward the center of curvature or axis of rotation. Centripetal force is necessary for an object to move with circular motion.

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