Centripetal Force Calculator
Net force causing circular motion.
Formula first
Overview
Centripetal force is the net force required to keep an object moving in a curved or circular path, always directed toward the center of rotation. It is not a unique force itself but is provided by other physical interactions such as tension, gravity, or friction to counteract the object's inertia.
Symbols
Variables
F = Force, m = Mass, v = Velocity, r = Radius
Apply it well
When To Use
When to use: Apply this equation when an object travels at a constant speed along a circular trajectory. It assumes the force is perpendicular to the object's velocity and that the system is viewed from an inertial frame of reference.
Why it matters: This principle is fundamental in engineering safe highway curves, designing high-speed centrifuges for medical research, and calculating the orbits of satellites. It explains how forces must be balanced to prevent objects from flying off their intended paths due to inertia.
Avoid these traps
Common Mistakes
- Using diameter instead of radius.
- Using tangential speed incorrectly.
One free problem
Practice Problem
A 1200 kg race car travels around a circular track with a radius of 50 meters at a constant velocity of 20 m/s. What is the centripetal force exerted on the car by the track's friction?
Solve for:
Hint: Square the velocity first, multiply by the mass, then divide by the radius.
The full worked solution stays in the interactive walkthrough.
References
Sources
- Halliday, Resnick, Walker, Fundamentals of Physics, 10th ed.
- Wikipedia: Centripetal force
- Halliday, Resnick, and Walker, Fundamentals of Physics, 10th ed.
- NIST Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)
- Halliday, Resnick, Walker Fundamentals of Physics
- Griffiths Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
- AQA A-Level Physics — Circular Motion