Directed toward or moving toward a center point, especially in physics describing forces that pull inward.
From Latin 'centrum' (center) + 'cipitalis' or related to 'caput' (head), combining to mean 'heading toward the center.' A technical physics term created by combining Latin roots.
This is the science word for what happens when you swing a bucket in a circle—the force pulling inward toward your hand is centripetal, and it's the opposite of the centrifugal feeling that pushes outward!
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