Home
Back
Centripetal Acceleration Formula:
| From: | To: |
Centripetal acceleration is the acceleration experienced by an object moving in a circular path, always directed toward the center of rotation. It's what keeps objects moving in circular motion rather than in a straight line.
The calculator uses the centripetal acceleration formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula shows that centripetal acceleration increases with the square of velocity and decreases with increasing radius of the circular path.
Details: Understanding centripetal acceleration is crucial in physics and engineering, particularly in designing roads, roller coasters, and analyzing planetary motion. It's fundamental to circular motion dynamics.
Tips: Enter velocity in meters per second (m/s) and radius in meters (m). Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.
Q1: What's the difference between centripetal and centrifugal force?
A: Centripetal force is the real force that keeps an object moving in a circle, directed toward the center. Centrifugal force is a perceived outward force in a rotating reference frame.
Q2: Does mass affect centripetal acceleration?
A: No, centripetal acceleration depends only on velocity and radius, not on the mass of the object.
Q3: What are some real-world examples of centripetal acceleration?
A: Cars turning on curved roads, planets orbiting the sun, electrons orbiting atomic nuclei, and amusement park rides like roller coasters and carousels.
Q4: How does centripetal acceleration relate to centripetal force?
A: Centripetal force is calculated as F = m × a_c, where m is mass and a_c is centripetal acceleration. The force provides the necessary acceleration for circular motion.
Q5: What happens if centripetal force is removed?
A: The object will stop moving in a circular path and continue in a straight line tangent to its previous circular path, following Newton's first law of motion.