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Centripetal force calculator

Compute the centripetal force on an object moving in a circle (F = mv²/r).

Related tools

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Force calculator (F = ma)Compute force from mass and acceleration using Newton's second law.Gravitational force calculatorCompute the gravitational attraction between two masses (Newton's law).Friction force calculatorCompute the friction force from the coefficient of friction and the normal force (F = μN).Hydraulic Cylinder Force CalculatorPush and pull force of a hydraulic cylinder from F = P × A, with the rod annulus handled properly, the area ratio φ and an ISO bore table.Escape velocity calculatorCompute the escape velocity of a body from its mass and radius.Orbital period calculatorCompute how long an object takes to orbit a body from the orbit radius and mass.Orbital velocity calculatorCompute the circular orbital velocity around a body from its mass and orbit radius.Kinetic energy calculatorCompute kinetic energy from mass and velocity (½mv²).

Enter Mass (kg), Velocity (m/s), Radius (m) and the Centripetal force calculator works out Centripetal force (N) straight away. For instance, with Mass (kg) = 2, Velocity (m/s) = 5 and Radius (m) = 3 it returns Centripetal force (N) = 16.667.

How to use it

  1. Enter your values: Mass (kg), Velocity (m/s), Radius (m).
  2. Read the result instantly: Centripetal force (N).

Frequently asked questions

How does the Centripetal force calculator work?

It takes Mass (kg), Velocity (m/s) and Radius (m) and derives Centripetal force (N) from them. The calculation is live as you type, so the result updates on every change.

Which values does the calculator ask for?

3 values: Mass (kg), Velocity (m/s) and Radius (m). Nothing else is required — no account, no file upload.

What does a typical calculation look like?

With Mass (kg) = 2, Velocity (m/s) = 5 and Radius (m) = 3, the calculator returns Centripetal force (N) = 16.667. Those figures come from running this exact tool, so you can reproduce them by entering the same values.

How much does the result change with different inputs?

It moves a lot. Using Mass (kg) = 2, Velocity (m/s) = 10 and Radius (m) = 3.3 instead, Centripetal force (N) goes from 16.667 to 60.606 — which is why it is worth testing a few scenarios rather than trusting a single figure.

What does it give for smaller values?

Scaled down to Mass (kg) = 2, Velocity (m/s) = 3 and Radius (m) = 2.7, Centripetal force (N) comes out at 6.667. The relationship is worth checking at both ends before you rely on a single result.

When would I actually use this?

Checking a homework answer, sizing something before building it, and getting an order of magnitude before committing to a design — a torque on a bolt, the force a spring returns, the frequency a circuit resonates at, how long light takes to arrive.

What is the most common mistake?

Feeding in a value in the wrong unit. Physics formulas assume SI throughout, so grams instead of kilograms or centimetres instead of metres shifts the answer by powers of ten without any warning.

What is the difference between the Centripetal force calculator and the Force calculator (F = ma)?

This one returns Centripetal force (N); the Force calculator (F = ma) returns Force (N). That is the whole difference — open the one whose figure you need.

Is there a tool for the next step?

Gravitational force calculator is the closest one after this: Compute the gravitational attraction between two masses (Newton's law).

What else is worth having open alongside it?

Friction force calculator and Hydraulic Cylinder Force Calculator — they come up in the same task often enough to be worth a second tab.

Further reading

All guides →
ExplainerHooke's Law Explained: F = kx, Real Spring Constants, and Where It Stops HoldingHooke's law says force is proportional to stretch — but only below the elastic limit. Here is F = kx with worked numbers, what a 200 N/m spring actually feels like, and how springs combine.ExplainerProjectile Motion Explained: Range, Height, Flight Time — and Why 45° Is Not Always BestThree formulas cover the whole of projectile motion on level ground. The catch is level ground: the moment launch and landing heights differ, the 45° result stops being true.ExplainerWhat Is Kinetic Energy? The KE = ½mv² Formula ExplainedKinetic energy is the energy of motion, given by KE = ½mv². Learn what the formula means, why speed matters most, and see worked examples in joules.ExplainerWhat Is Horsepower? Mechanical hp, Metric PS, and kWHorsepower measures the rate of doing work. Learn where the unit came from, how mechanical hp differs from metric PS/CV, and how both relate to kilowatts.ExplainerHow the Doppler Effect Works: The Formula, the Sign Convention, and Why Moving the Source Is Not the Same as Moving the ListenerFor sound, f' = f(v + v_o)/(v − v_s) — and getting the signs backwards is the classic error. Here is the convention spelled out, a 440 Hz source computed at four speeds, and why light needs a different equation entirely.ExplainerWhat Is the Reynolds Number? The Formula, the Units That Cancel, and Why 2 300 Is Only for PipesRe = ρvL/μ compares inertia with viscosity, and the units really do cancel. See the number worked out for honey, a household pipe, an artery, a swimmer and a wing — and why the 2 300 threshold belongs to pipe flow alone.