Final answer:
Centrifugal force is actually the perceived effect of inertia when an object is in circular motion; the real force that keeps an object moving in a circular path is the centripetal force, which is directed towards the center of the curve.
Step-by-step explanation:
The force that pulls an object outward from the center of a curve is often referred to as centrifugal force. However, this is a perceived force that arises from the inertia of an object moving in a circular path. In actuality, the real force at work during uniform circular motion is the centripetal force, which is directed towards the center of the circular path. According to Newton's second law of motion, a net external force is required to cause the continual change in direction of the object's velocity, known as centripetal acceleration. This centripetal force could be due to tension, gravity, friction, or any other force that keeps the object moving in a circle.
When an object is in uniform circular motion, the velocity must increase as the radius increases to maintain the constant force. Conversely, the velocity must decrease if increasing the radius while keeping the force constant. It is the centripetal force that is responsible for the object's circular path. Notably, this force is always directed towards the center of rotation, perpendicularly to the tangential velocity of the object. The sensation of being 'thrown' outward when taking a curve in a car is due to inertia - the tendency of the body to continue in a straight line (Newton's first law), while the car itself is directed along the curve by centripetal force.