(we suggest the living room...but any room where your mom keeps nice furniture or antiques will do)
IF A BUCKET OF WATER IS SWUNG AROUND IN A CIRCLE ON THE END OF A ROPE, THE WATER WILL NOT SPILL OUT IF THE BUCKET IS MOVING FAST ENOUGH. THIS IS BECAUSE THE WATER IS TRYING TO CONTINUE IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND THEREFORE PUSHES AGAINST THE BUCKET THAT IS PULLING IT AROUND IN A CIRCLE. THIS TENDENCY TO CONTINUE MOVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE APPEARS TO PRODUCE A FORCE ACTING AWAY FROM THE CENTER. THIS ILLUSORY FORCE IS SOMETIMES REFFERED TO AS CENTRIFUGAL FORCE. THE REAL FORCE ACTING TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE CIRCLE TO KEEP THE BUCKET MOVING IN A CIRCULAR PATH IS CALLED CENTRIPETAL FORCE. IT IS PROVIDED BY THE ROPE. WITHOUT THIS FORCE, THE BUCKET WOULD FLY OFF IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE FASTER THE BUCKET IS SWUNG, THE GREATER THE CENTRIPETAL FORCE NEEDED TO PREVENT IT FROM FLYING OFF.