Welcome to the centripetal force calculator. This simple to use tool helps you find answers to the most common and intriguing questions about the centripetal force. Have you ever wondered:
If so, this is the right place to begin! Let's go through the article together to learn about the centripetal force definition and centripetal force units. You can also find a couple of centripetal force examples to compute by yourself.
The book definition of centripetal force tells us that it's the force that acts on any object that moves along a curved path. The direction of the force is always parallel to the curvature's radius r. Usually, we deal with centripetal force examples when talking about a circular motion. It's the simplest type of nonlinear movement. In this case, the curvature's radius is, naturally, the circle's radius. We can write the centripetal force formula as: F = m * v² / r,where:
According to Newton's second law, a = v² / r is the centripetal acceleration's formula. Take a look at the centripetal force's diagram to visualize what centripetal force definition is all about: We can also rewrite the centripetal force equation by replacing the velocity with the angular velocity ω: F = m * ω² * r.
As the centripetal force is, well, a force, it has precisely the same unit as other forces in physics. So what is the centripetal force unit?
However, you don't have to worry about force unit conversion while using our centripetal force calculator. You can change them automatically with a single click! Similarly, the unit of centripetal acceleration is m/s².
At first glance, it may seem that there is no difference between centripetal and centrifugal force, as the formula of centrifugal force is precisely the same as the equation for centripetal one: F = m * v² / r.The crucial factor that helps us distinguish between these two is the frame of reference. Imagine a circular motion, e.g., a kid on a merry-go-round:
As you can see, the centripetal force is present in both reference frames, while the centrifugal force unveils only in the non-inertial one. It isn't always evident whether we're dealing with an inertial or non-inertial frame of reference. How to distinguish between them? Let's take a look at the two diagrams with the comparison of centripetal vs. centrifugal force:
Having the theory in our minds, let's try to solve a few centripetal force examples.
Whenever you get lost or just want to check the results, feel free to use our centripetal force calculator. It follows precisely the same steps as in these centripetal force examples so that you can evaluate any of the centripetal force equation variables!
We can also rewrite the centripetal force definition so that the force's direction is always perpendicular to the motion. Now, let's recall the work's definition: W = F · s.If the angle between the motion's displacement s and the force F is 90°, then the work equals zero, and so no additional energy enters or emerges from the system. What is the consequence? If the centripetal force is the only one that acts on the object, the system's total energy is conserved. Some of the best-known examples of this kind are planetary systems. That's why planets orbit around the Sun on stable orbits for ages.
To calculate the centripetal force for an object travelling in a circular motion, you should:
The centripetal force makes an object move along a curved trajectory, and it points to the rotation's center. The centrifugal force is an apparent force felt by the body which moves along a curved path, and it points outside the curvature.
The centripetal force is perpendicular to the velocity and changes its direction without changing its magnitude. If it's the only force acting on the object, this results in a uniform circular motion.
Depending on the situation, different forces may act as the centripetal force:
Gravitational attraction causes Earth's centripetal motion. Earth moves around the Sun because of the gravitational force that attracts these two bodies. The centripetal force points to the Sun, which changes the direction of Earth's velocity and results in an elliptical motion.
The centripetal force is proportional to the mass. Doubling the mass doubles the centripetal force. Similarly, dividing the mass by the factor ten reduces the centripetal force tenfold.
To move in a circular motion, we need to apply a centripetal force that changes the direction of the velocity. Otherwise, according to Newton's First Law, the object would move straight with constant velocity if there was no net force. Circular MotionStart: 1.24.181.Uniform circular motion06.ac= v2/r2.Centripetal acceleration07.Fc=mv2/r3.Centripetal force4.Fc= centripetal force5.ac= centripetal acceleration➔An unbalanced force acting on an object always produces a change in the object'svelocity➔If the force applied is perpendicular to the direction of the motion only the directionof the velocity changes➔The object accelerates because velocity changes➔If the applied force has a constant magnitude and always acts perpendicular to thedirection of the object’s velocity, the object moves in a circular path at constantspeed, uniform acceleration➔An object moving uniformly in a circular path always has centripetal acceleration➔The acceleration is directed towards the center of the circle “center seaking”➔The force needed to keep an object moving in a circular path is called centripetalforce➔Centripetal force is a vector quantity which produces centripetal acceleration |