Definition
Centrifugal force is the apparent force on a vehicle taking a curve, pushing it outwards. It is not a real force but the effect of inertia. It scales with the square of speed and inversely with curve radius: faster speed and tighter radius mean more centrifugal force.
Key facts
- Quadruples when speed doubles.
- Greater on tighter curves.
- Also greater with heavier vehicles and higher centres of gravity (SUVs roll over more easily).
Practice real questions on this topic
Free DGT 2026 test with exam-style questions and explanations. No signup. Or explore the free DGT test in English hub for everything in one place.
In the DGT exam
- A dual-purpose vehicle, without a trailer or special transport operation, travels on a motorway with no lower specific limit. What is its general maximum speed?
- As a general limit, with no lower restriction, what is the maximum speed for a passenger car towing a trailer on an unpaved road outside built-up areas?
- On a conventional road outside built-up areas, without physical separation of directions or another restriction, a passenger car has a general limit of 90 km/h. With no reason justifying a lower speed, what is its minimum speed?
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