centrifugal forces

Centrifugal forces are apparent forces that seem to push objects outward when they move in a curved path, like the sensation of being pulled toward the car door during a sharp turn.

In physics, centrifugal force is considered a "fictitious" force—it arises from inertia in a rotating reference frame rather than from any actual push.

The term extends to political and social contexts, where centrifugal forces are pressures that pull a group or nation apart: Ethnic tensions and economic inequality acted as centrifugal forces threatening the federation.