InertialForce - crowlogic/arb4j GitHub Wiki

An inertial force, also known as "fictitious forces" or "pseudo forces", is a concept used in physics to describe the forces that appear to act on a mass due to the acceleration or deceleration of the reference frame in which the mass is observed. These forces are not caused by physical interactions with other objects but are instead a result of the non-inertial motion of the observer.

In an inertial frame of reference, which is either at rest or moving at a constant velocity, the laws of Newtonian mechanics apply straightforwardly, and objects move according to the forces acting upon them. However, in a non-inertial frame, which is accelerating or rotating, objects seem to behave in ways that violate Newton's laws unless these additional inertial forces are taken into account.

Examples of inertial forces include:

1. Centrifugal Force: This force appears to act outward on a mass when it is in a rotating frame of reference, like a car turning a corner or an object in a spinning carousel. It's not a real force but rather the result of the object's inertia trying to keep it moving in a straight line while the reference frame itself is curving.

2. Coriolis Force: This force is observed in a rotating reference frame, affecting the trajectory of moving objects. It's responsible for the deflection of air currents and ocean currents on Earth due to the planet's rotation.

3. Euler Force: This force occurs in a rotating system when the rate of rotation is changing. It's less commonly experienced in everyday scenarios but is important in the study of rotating bodies in physics and engineering.

These forces are essential in understanding and predicting the behavior of objects in non-inertial frames of reference, such as within rotating systems or accelerating vehicles. They are key concepts in classical mechanics and continue to be relevant in various fields, including engineering, meteorology, and astrophysics.