Can anyone describe the nature of the forces operating on a piece of clay being centered on a potter's wheel?
Does the centripetal force? I am a potter and a master's degree in molecular biology, and can not find an adequate answer to this question.
The centripetal force is the force that moves a rotating body away from the center. Centrifugal force is the force that keeps a rotating body away the center. Think of a hammer throw in sport. The pitcher goes around in a circle to increase the dynamics, thus enhancing the energy in the hammer. His holding the hammer is a centrifugal force, and rotation of the hammer is a centripetal force. As soon as he lets go, the hammer energy have gathered from the rotation enought to go a long way. It is the same for the piece of clay. Beeing attached to the rotating body prevents away from the body, but the rotation moves away from the body.
Clay in the Potter's Hand
