Referring to something that acts or moves in a direction toward the axis or center of rotation: One example of centripetal force is a car turning in which the friction between the tires and the street gives the inward force needed to keep the car proceeding in a circular course.

The force that is required to keep an object moving around a circular path: Centripetal force is directed towards the center of the circle. In the absence of this effect, the object would move in a straight line tangential to the circle or keep going in a straight line.

Cars need aid or assistance going around corners, so objects tend to travel in straight lines unless centripetal force bends their motion around into a curve.