centripetal force

the force that acts on an object moving in a circular path, directed toward the center of the circle or the axis of rotation, preventing the object from moving in a straight line

When you swing a ball attached to a string in a circular motion, the tension in the string acts as the centripetal force.
In planetary motion, the gravitational pull exerted by the sun on a planet acts as a centripetal force keeping the planet in orbit.
When a car turns around a curve, the frictional force between the tires and the road provides the centripetal force.
The tension in the ropes of a spinning amusement park ride acts as the centripetal force, keeping the riders in circular motion.
The Earth's gravitational pull on the Moon provides the centripetal force necessary for the Moon's orbital motion.

Antonyms:

centrifugal force