In projectile motion, let's take any point on it's trajectory i.e. we are talking about an instance where the particle is. Then, is there any centrifugal force acting in the opposite direction to the force which is acting along the radius of curvature?
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2 Answers
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The presence of a centrifugal force only applies when looking at the system from a rotating reference frame. So, if you are watching your projectile while on a Ferris wheel, for example, then you would need to include a centrifugal force (among other fictitious forces) to explain the motion of the projectile.
If you are just watching the projectile from an inertial reference frame, say you just threw a ball from your stationary house's window, then you do not need to include a centrifugal force. Ignoring air resistance there is just a single force acting on the projectile: gravity.
answered Jun 12, 2020 at 13:46
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The answer is no.
A projectile that is following a curved path in a gravitational field has inertial motion and therefore there are no forces acting on it.
The modern interpretation is that objects following a curved path in a gravitational field (e.g. an object in orbit) simply follow a geodesic in the curved spacetime
An astronaut inside in a space station is following a curved path, but no centripetal force is measured with an accelerometer, so no centrifugal force is required to balance it. The situation is different inside a car which is cornering. The driver feels as if a force is pushing him to the outside of the turn and this is due to the real centripetal force directing the car to the inside of the turn. The driver is an accelerating reference frame and the centrifugal force is real. An outside inertial observer would say there is a centripetal force acting inwards and this is why the car follows a curved path and from his point of view there is no centrifugal force acting on the car.
