How to use the centripetal force calculator
Compute centripetal force and acceleration for circular motion. Enter mass, speed, radius in the fields above; the centripetal force, centripetal acceleration, period of one lap are computed instantly and plotted on the chart so you can see how the answer changes.
Formula
Variables
- m — Mass (kg)
- v — Speed (m/s)
- r — Radius (m)
Worked example
With mass = 1200 kg, speed = 20 m/s, radius = 50 m, the calculator gives centripetal force ≈ 9,600 N; centripetal acceleration ≈ 8 m/s²; period of one lap ≈ 15.70796 s.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for the centripetal force calculation?
Centripetal force (N) = m × v × v / r. Centripetal acceleration (m/s²) = v × v / r. Period of one lap (s) = 2 × π × r / v. Here m is mass (kg), v is speed (m/s), r is radius (m).
What inputs do I need for the centripetal force calculator?
You need mass in kg, speed in m/s, radius in m. Each field is pre-filled with a typical example so you can see how the result responds as you edit the numbers.
How do I use this calculator?
Type values into the input fields. Results and the chart update instantly. Use Reset to restore the example values, Copy results to paste them elsewhere, or Share to copy a link that preserves your inputs.
Is the result exact?
Calculations use standard formulas and double-precision arithmetic, then display about seven significant figures. Real-world measurements carry uncertainty, so treat results as estimates unless your inputs are exact.