College Physics II – Mechanics, Sound, Oscillations, and Waves
Definition
A noninertial frame of reference is a frame of reference that is accelerating with respect to an inertial frame. In such frames, fictitious forces, like the Coriolis force and centrifugal force, must be introduced to apply Newton's laws correctly.
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In noninertial frames, Newton's first law (the law of inertia) does not hold unless fictitious forces are included.
Centripetal force is required for circular motion in noninertial frames due to the presence of centrifugal force.
Observers in noninertial frames will experience additional apparent forces that do not exist in inertial frames.
The acceleration of a noninertial frame can be determined by analyzing the fictitious forces experienced within it.
Fictitious forces are proportional to the mass of the object and the acceleration of the noninertial frame.
Review Questions
What distinguishes a noninertial frame from an inertial frame?
Why are fictitious forces necessary when working within a noninertial frame?
How does centripetal force relate to circular motion in a noninertial frame?
Related terms
Inertial Frame: A frame of reference in which Newton's laws hold without modification and objects move with constant velocity unless acted upon by external forces.
Centrifugal Force: A fictitious force that acts outward on a mass when it is in a rotating reference frame, appearing to push objects away from the center of rotation.
Coriolis Force: A fictitious force observed in rotating frames, causing moving objects to be deflected to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere.