What is centrifugal force?

Centrifugal force is best described as a fictitious or apparent force that acts outward on a body moving in a circular path. It is experienced by an object moving along a curved trajectory, giving the sensation of being pushed away from the center of rotation. This force arises due to inertia, as the object tends to move in a straight line while the path is curved.

In the context of this question, the option regarding the force that pushes to the outside on a curve accurately captures this concept. The other options do not align with the definition of centrifugal force: the force that pulls towards the center refers to centripetal force, the force that opposes gravity describes gravitational force and its effects, and the force that acts on stationary objects does not pertain to centrifugal force, as it specifically relates to motion along a curved path. This clarification helps in understanding how forces interact in circular motion and why the notion of centrifugal force is significant in various practical applications, such as in vehicle dynamics during turns, among others.