Definition

1. Adjective (Physics):
   • Centripetal: Describing a force, acceleration, or direction that is directed towards the centre of a circle or a curved path. It is the property of "pointing towards the centre."

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Lực hướng tâm giữ cho Trái Đất quay quanh Mặt Trời. (Centripetal force keeps the Earth orbiting the Sun.)
  • Gia tốc hướng tâm là cần thiết cho chuyển động tròn. (Centripetal acceleration is necessary for circular motion.)
  • Vectơ vận tốc có thành phần hướng tâm. (The velocity vector has a centripetal component.)

Advanced Usage

• "Lực hướng tâm": Centripetal force. The net force that causes an object to follow a curved path, always directed perpendicular to the object's velocity and towards the centre of curvature.
  • Khi ô tô vào cua, lực ma sát đóng vai trò lực hướng tâm. (When a car turns a corner, friction acts as the centripetal force.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ly tâm (adj): Centrifugal. Often described as the apparent "outward force" in a rotating frame of reference, but it is not a true force in an inertial frame.
  • Lực ly tâm làm cho hành khách nghiêng ra ngoài khi xe quay vòng. (Centrifugal force makes passengers lean outward when the vehicle turns.)

Synonyms

• Centre-seeking: A descriptive synonym for centripetal.
• Radially inward: Describing the direction towards the centre along a radius.

Related Concepts

• Chuyển động tròn đều: Uniform circular motion. The motion of an object traveling at constant speed along a circular path, requiring constant centripetal acceleration.
• Gia tốc hướng tâm: Centripetal acceleration. The rate of change of velocity that produces the change in direction towards the centre.

1. Centripetal
   • Lực hướng tâm
     Centripetal force