when a body moves uniformly in a circular motion is acted upon by an acceleration which is directed along a circular radius towards the centre of circle is called centripetal force.

Centripetal and Centrifugal Force:

Introduction:
Centripetal and centrifugal forces are two concepts used in physics to describe the motion of objects in circular paths. These forces are essential for understanding the dynamics of rotating systems and various natural phenomena.

Centripetal Force:
Centripetal force is a force that acts towards the center of a circular path, keeping an object moving in a curved trajectory. It is responsible for maintaining the direction of an object's velocity while it undergoes circular motion. The centripetal force is always directed inward and perpendicular to the velocity vector at any point in the object's path.

Examples of Centripetal Force:
- A car taking a turn on a curved road experiences a centripetal force that keeps it on the road and prevents it from sliding off.
- A satellite in orbit around the Earth experiences a centripetal force due to the gravitational pull of the Earth.

Centrifugal Force:
Centrifugal force is a pseudo-force that appears to act outward from the center of rotation. It is experienced by an object moving in a circular path and is an apparent force resulting from the inertia of the object. In reality, centrifugal force does not exist as an actual force but is rather an observation from a non-inertial frame of reference.

Examples of Centrifugal Force:
- When a car takes a sharp turn, passengers experience a sensation of being pushed outward due to the centrifugal force, which is simply their inertia trying to keep them moving in a straight line.
- A person sitting in a spinning amusement park ride feels pushed against the outer edge due to the centrifugal force acting outward.

Relationship between Centripetal and Centrifugal Force:
Centripetal force and centrifugal force are two sides of the same coin, related by Newton's third law of motion. According to this law, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In the case of circular motion, the centripetal force is the action force directed inward, while the centrifugal force is the reaction force seemingly pushing outward. However, it is important to note that centrifugal force does not exist as a real force but is rather an apparent force.

Conclusion:
Centripetal and centrifugal forces are concepts used to describe the motion of objects in circular paths. While centripetal force acts inward, keeping objects on a curved trajectory, centrifugal force is an apparent force that only appears to push objects outward. Understanding these forces is crucial for analyzing circular motion and various phenomena observed in rotating systems.