centripetal

IPA/ˌsentrɪˈpiːtl/
IPA/senˈtrɪpɪtl/

centripetal — adjective

  • centripetalpositive
  • more centripetalcomparative
  • most centripetalsuperlative

1. If something's motion is centripetal, it is moving inward, toward the central po

1.形容詞C1
釋義

If something's motion is centripetal, it is moving inward, toward the central point that it is travelling around in a circle.

例句

Felipe's teacher used a piece of string to explain centripetal force to the class.

collocation: centripetal force

The car's centripetal acceleration kept it safely on the road through the sharp bend.

centripetal acceleration — physics term

同義詞
  • inward

    broader, less technical; 'inward' covers any movement toward the inside, while 'centripetal' is used only for circular motion

反義詞
  • centrifugal

    moving or tending to move outward from the centre of rotation

文法句型

centripetal + noun

用法筆記

Almost always used before a noun in the phrases 'centripetal force' or 'centripetal acceleration'; rarely appears in everyday conversation outside physics or engineering contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The centripetal force flung the passengers outward on the ride.
✅The centrifugal force flung the passengers outward on the ride.
💡centripetal pulls inward toward the centre of rotation; centrifugal is the apparent outward force.