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The "fictitious centrifugal force"

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  • 28-07-2006 9:51pm
    #1
    pH
    Registered Users Posts: 4,188 ✭✭✭


    Centrifugal Force
    An outward-directed "fictitious force" exerted on a body when it moves azimuthally in a noninertial rotating reference frame. For example, a rider standing on a carousel feels himself "pulled" outward as the carousel spins around. Centrifugal force is a fictitious force because it is a by-product of measuring coordinates with respect to a rotating coordinate system as opposed to an actual "push or pull."

    And here we see a group on enterprising teenagers putting Wolfram's "ficticious force" to the test - watch until the end!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbFVBiGuQlU

    (From Ben Goldacre's Bad Science)


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    #2
    Son Goku
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,475 ✭✭✭Son Goku


    Ouch!, they just got ****ed head first into the ground!

    Although are you saying centrifuge isn't fictitious?


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    #3
    pH
    Registered Users Posts: 4,188 ✭✭✭pH


    Son Goku wrote:
    Although are you saying centrifuge isn't fictitious?
    No I'm not, the centrifugal force is a pseudo (or fictitious) force. The quotes around it are from Wolfram's page indicating a special meaning for the word 'fictitious' is being used.

    It's just a clip that's doing the round, and this was Ben's 'humourous' take on it!

    boingboing's take is far more prosaic, as it won't lead to a discussion on interial reference frames!

    Insane playground stunt with scooter and merry-go-round
    Scooter jackasses Watch these kids spin around on a playground merry-go-round powered by the rear tire of a scooter. Death-defying fun for junior jackasses.
    http://www.boingboing.net/2006/07/28/insane_playground_st.html


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    #4
    Son Goku
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,475 ✭✭✭Son Goku


    What's sort of funny is that even if their badly hurt, as long as they aren't dead or unconscious, they'll probably just get straight back up and try it again.


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    #5
    JimTheBrit
    Registered Users Posts: 6 ✭JimTheBrit


    D'oh!

    "'Lethal' playground stunt blasted
    A park stunt in which two girls were thrown from a roundabout powered by a moped is being investigated by police.

    Officers were alerted to the incident in Crawley, West Sussex, after seeing video footage of the prank on a US-based website."

    BBC article


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