Centripetal Force Calculator
A 1000 kg car rounding a 50 m radius curve at 10 m/s needs a centripetal force of 2000 N, supplied by tyre friction, from F = mv²/r.
2000 N
- In kN
- 2 kN
- In mN
- 2000000 mN
- In lbf
- 449.6178862 lbf
- In kgf
- 203.9432426 kgf
- In dyn
- 200000000 dyn
- Centripetal acceleration v²/r
- 2 m/s²
- Angular speed ω = v/r
- 0.2 rad/s
- Period 2πr/v
- 31.41592654 s
Step-by-step solution
- F = m × v² ÷ r
- F = 1000 × 10² ÷ 50
- F = 2000 N
Centripetal Force Formula
F = m v² / r
m mass, v speed, r radius of the circle; a = v²/r, ω = v/r
Worked Example
A 1000 kg car taking a 50 m radius curve at 10 m/s:
- F = m × v² ÷ r
- F = 1000 × 10² ÷ 50
- F = 2000 N
In mN: 2000000 mN · In lbf: 449.6178862 lbf · In kgf: 203.9432426 kgf · In dyn: 200000000 dyn · Centripetal acceleration v²/r: 2 m/s² · Angular speed ω = v/r: 0.2 rad/s · Period 2πr/v: 31.41592654 s
Speed doubles, force quadruples
Because force depends on v², taking a bend at twice the speed needs four times the grip. This is why advisory speeds on curves drop sharply as the radius shrinks.
More Forces and Newton’s Laws Calculators
-
Newton's Second Law Calculator
F = m a
F net force (N), m mass (kg), a acceleration (m/s²)
Example: A 12 kg trolley accelerating at 2.5 m/s²: Net force F = 30 N.
-
Gravitational Force Calculator
F = G m₁ m₂ / r²
G = 6.67430 × 10⁻¹¹ N·m²/kg², m₁ and m₂ the masses, r the distance between their centres
Example: Earth (5.972 × 10²⁴ kg) and the Moon (7.348 × 10²² kg) 384,400 km apart: Gravitational force F = 1.98211 × 10²⁰ N.
-
Weight Calculator
W = m g
W weight (N), m mass (kg), g gravitational acceleration (9.80665 m/s² standard on Earth)
Example: A 70 kg person standing on Earth: Weight on Earth W = 686.465 N.
-
Hooke's Law Calculator
F = k x
F spring force, k spring constant (stiffness), x extension or compression; energy E = ½kx²
Example: A spring with k = 200 N/m stretched 0.25 m: Spring force F = 50 N.
Frequently asked questions
What provides the centripetal force?
Whatever pulls the object toward the centre: tension for a ball on a string, friction for a car on a bend, gravity for a satellite. Centripetal force is not an extra force but the net inward force.
How do I use rpm?
Convert to speed with v = 2πr × rpm / 60, or to angular speed ω = 2π × rpm / 60 and use F = mω²r.
Sources
- The International System of Units (SI), 9th edition (SI Brochure), Bureau International des Poids et Mesures .
Last reviewed: . Factors are stored exactly and computed with 50-digit decimal arithmetic. See how we verify conversion factors.
Cite this page
APA
Scientific Converters. (2026, October 15). Centripetal Force Calculator. Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://scientificconverters.com/calculators/centripetal-force-calculator/
IEEE
Scientific Converters, "Centripetal Force Calculator," scientificconverters.com. Accessed: Oct. 25, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://scientificconverters.com/calculators/centripetal-force-calculator/