http://phun.physics.virginia.edu/topics/centrifugal.

html

An object traveling in a circle behaves as if it is experiencing an outward force. This force, known
as the centrifugal force, depends on the mass of the object, the speed of rotation, and the distance
from the center. The more massive the object, the greater the force; the greater the speed of the
object, the greater the force; and the greater the distance from the center, the greater the force.

It is important to note that the centrifugal force does not actually exist. We feel it, because we are in
a non-inertial coordinate system. Nevertheless, it appears quite real to the object being rotated. This
is because the object believes that it is in a non-accelerating situation, when in fact it is not. For
instance, a child on a merry-go-round is not experiencing any real force outward, but he/she must
exert a force to keep from flying off the merry-go-round. Because the centrifugal force appears so
real, it is often very useful to use as if it were real. The more massive the object, the greater the
force. We know that this is true because an adult will have a harder time staying on a merry-go-
round than a child will. The greater the speed of rotation, the greater the outward force. We know
that this is true because a merry-go-round is harder to stay on, the faster it rotates. If you move
further out on the merry-go-round, you will have to exert a greater force to stay on. In order to stay
on a circular path, we must exert a force towards the center called centripetal (or "center-seeking")
force. Consider a rope with a ball on the end. You can swirl the ball around in a circle over your head
while holding onto the rope. The ball experiences the so-called centrifugal force, and it is the rope
that provides the force to keep in moving in the circle.

Fc = mv2/r, where Fc = centrifugal force, m = mass, v = speed, and r = radius.

An object traveling in a circle behaves as if it is experiencing an outward force. This force is known as
the centrifugal force. It is important to note that the centrifugal force does not actually exist.
Nevertheless, it appears quite real to the object being rotated. For instance, a child on a merry-go-
round is not experiencing any real force outward, but he/she must exert a force to keep from flying
off the merry-go-round. The child believes that he/she is in an inertial frame of reference, when in
fact he/she is not. An object traveling in a circular motion is constantly accelerating and is therefore
never in an inertial frame of reference. Since the centrifugal force appears so real, it is often very
useful to use as if it were real. The equation above shows that the force depends on v-squared over
r. Because v increases with radius, the force will actually increase with radius as well. If you are
standing on the merry-go-round, you will have a harder time staying on as you move further away
from the center if the merry-go-round rotates at a constant speed.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/centrifugal-force-info.htm

Centrifugal Force, in physics, the tendency of an object following a curved path to fly away
from the center of curvature. Centrifugal force is not a true force; it is a form of inertia (the
tendency of objects that are moving in a straight line to continue moving in a straight line).
Centrifugal force is referred to as a force for convenience—because it balances centripetal
force, which is a true force. If a ball is swung on the end of a string, the string exerts
centripetal force on the ball and causes it to follow a curved path. The ball is said to exert
centrifugal force on the string, tending to break the string and fly off on a tangent.

The effects of centrifugal force can be controlled and even harnessed for useful purposes. For
example, centrifugal force is used in centrifuges and in engine governors. Highway curves
are banked (tilted) to prevent centrifugal force from forcing cars outward off the road.

When measured in pounds, centrifugal force is given by the formula wv2/gr

Where w is the weight of the object in pounds, v the velocity in feet per second, g the
acceleration of gravity (32 feet per second per second), and r the radius of the circle in feet.

The car tires on the road have a enough static friction to act as centripetal force which forces
the car to go around the curve.  The tape on the slippery dashboard does not have enough
friction to act as a centripetal force, so in the absence of a centripetal force the tape follows
straight line motion.  The car literally turns out from underneath the tape, but from the
passenger's point of view it looks as though something (a ghost force?) pushed the tape across
the dashboard.  If the car you are riding in has the windows rolled down, then the tape will
leave the car (or does the car leave the tape?) as it follows its straight line path.  If the
windows are rolled up, then the window will deliver a centripetal force to the tape and keep it
in a circular path.

Any time the word Centrifugal Force is used, what is really being described is
a Lack-of-Centripetal Force.