Final answer:
The sensation of being 'thrown' outwards when a car turns is due to inertia and the fictitious centrifugal force, not an actual repulsive force. The centripetal force, which is directed towards the center, is opposed by the body's inertia wanting to keep moving straight.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Centripetal Force and Inertial Effects
When a car goes around a curve, the centripetal force is indeed directed towards the center of the curve. This force is necessary for any type of circular motion and can be provided by various means such as tension, gravitational force, or friction. The sensation of being 'thrown' outward is a consequence of inertia, which is an object's tendency to resist changes in its state of motion and follow a straight-line path due to Newton's first law of motion. Inside a car that is turning, what you actually feel is not a real force but rather a fictitious force known as centrifugal force.
The centripetal force is responsible for pulling the car—and everything in it—towards the center of the curve to maintain circular motion. However, your body's inertia makes it want to continue moving straight ahead, and so there's a perception of being pushed outward. This inertial effect is more pronounced at higher speeds and sharper curves and does not involve any real outward force. Nevertheless, it is a vivid experience commonly mistaken for an actual force acting in the opposite direction of the centripetal force.