What term describes the tendency of objects to be pulled outward while rotating around a center?

The term that describes the tendency of objects to be pulled outward while rotating around a center is known as centrifugal force. This concept arises from the inertia of an object when it is in a rotating reference frame. As an object moves in a circular path, it tends to continue in a straight line due to its inertia. However, because it is constrained to move in a circle, it appears to be pushed outward from the center of rotation. This tendency to be "pushed" away from the center is what we refer to as centrifugal force.

In practical terms, when a vehicle makes a sharp turn, passengers may feel as though they are being pushed against the door; this sensation is a result of centrifugal force acting on them. It's important to recognize that centrifugal force is not a real force acting on the object in an inertial frame, but rather a perceived effect due to the object's circular motion.

Centripetal force, which is also referenced in the choices, acts toward the center of the circular path and is what keeps an object moving in that circular path. Gravitational force is the attraction between masses, and inertial force relates to an object's resistance to changes in its state of motion. Each of these forces plays a different role in