Centripetal Force Calculator
Calculate the centripetal force needed to keep an object moving in a circular path.
What centripetal force is
Centripetal force is the net force required to keep an object moving along a curved, circular path, always directed toward the center of the circle. It is calculated as F = mv²/r, where m is mass, v is speed, and r is the radius of the circular path.
How this calculator works
Enter the object’s mass, its speed, and the radius of the circle it travels around. The calculator first finds the centripetal acceleration (a = v²/r), then multiplies by mass to give the centripetal force in newtons.
This calculator assumes uniform circular motion at constant speed. Centripetal force is not a separate physical force itself; it is the name given to whatever net force (tension, gravity, friction, etc.) actually causes the circular motion. For general educational purposes.