A centrifugal force tends to hurl objects out and away from the center around (on) which they are revolving; a centripetal force throws them in toward the center they are revolving about (on).
There is a bit of physics involved in this.
In terms of conventional usage, anything centripetal tends to unify and anything centrifugal tends to move away from centralization, as of authority. For example: “the division of Europe into warring blocs produces ever-increasing centrifugal stress”.
Explore More Usage Tips:
- Ceremonial & Ceremonious
- Chafe & Chaff
- Clench & Clinch
- Cliché & Clique
- Climacteric, Climactic & Climatic
