Final answer:
Centripetal force is a real force that causes objects to follow a circular path and is directed towards the center of the circle. Centrifugal force is a perceived force that arises in a rotating frame and is not an actual force. The correct definition of these forces is that centripetal force attracts objects toward the center, while centrifugal force is a fictitious force.
Step-by-step explanation:
Centripetal force is the net force causing an object to move in uniform circular motion. This force is always directed towards the center of the circle and is responsible for keeping an object on its circular path. Centrifugal force, on the other hand, is not an actual force, but rather a felt effect in a rotating reference frame that makes an object appear to be pushed outward. This discrepancy occurs because in a non-inertial, or rotating frame of reference, Newton's laws do not apply in their usual form, leading to the perception of such a force.
Some examples of centripetal force include tension in a string during the motion of a tetherball, the gravitational attraction between the Earth and the Moon, and the friction between the tires of a car and the road as the car turns. Essentially, any type of force or combination of forces that keeps an object in circular motion qualifies as a centripetal force. This force is perpendicular to the object's velocity and equal in magnitude to the mass of the object times the centripetal acceleration (Fc = m*ac).
The option that correctly defines centripetal and centrifugal forces in the student's question is C: Centripetal force - force that attracts objects towards the center of a circle; Centrifugal force - not an actual force.