Definition of centripetal in English:
centripetal
adjective ˌsɛntrɪˈpiːt(ə)lsɛnˈtrɪpɪt(ə)lsɛnˈtrɪpədl
Physics Moving or tending to move towards a centre.
The opposite of centrifugal
Example sentencesExamples
- The pattern of differentiation could thus be visualized as a centripetal wave moving inward from a ring of already differentiated cells.
- The competing forces of gravity at the lower end and outward centripetal acceleration at the farther end keep the cable under tension.
- The centripetal acceleration of this system rapidly became very high.
- But as soon as they are seen from any distance, they erupt into pulsing centripetal and centrifugal vortices.
- This is how fast the Earth would need to rotate to get centripetal acceleration at the equator equal to 9.81 m/s.
Derivatives
adverb
Physics Like rivers, which inevitably flow outward to the sea, power is constantly extended and refracted towards the far reaches of the island rather than cohering centripetally around the monarch.
Example sentencesExamples
- The circle advances centripetally, in some instances internalizing the still-dilated VLD membrane, in others, causing it to shrink and disappear.
- The floral organ differentiation occurs centripetally and is initiated with the differentiation of the abaxial tepal primordium (sepals and petals can not be differentiated), followed by the other tepal primordia.
- These erosion rooms are surrounded by reconstructed osteonal tissues that are deposited centripetally.
- In the mid-septal zone of Quenstedtiphyllia fritschi, calcification centers are separated, and the septa are built of serially arranged trabeculae that are oriented centripetally.
Origin
Early 18th century: from modern Latin centripetus, from Latin centrum (see centre) + -petus 'seeking' (from petere 'seek').
Definition of centripetal in US English:
centripetal
adjectivesenˈtripədlsɛnˈtrɪpədl
Physics Moving or tending to move toward a center.
The opposite of centrifugal
Example sentencesExamples
- This is how fast the Earth would need to rotate to get centripetal acceleration at the equator equal to 9.81 m/s.
- But as soon as they are seen from any distance, they erupt into pulsing centripetal and centrifugal vortices.
- The centripetal acceleration of this system rapidly became very high.
- The pattern of differentiation could thus be visualized as a centripetal wave moving inward from a ring of already differentiated cells.
- The competing forces of gravity at the lower end and outward centripetal acceleration at the farther end keep the cable under tension.
Origin
Early 18th century: from modern Latin centripetus, from Latin centrum (see center) + -petus ‘seeking’ (from petere ‘seek’).