Centripetal Acceleration Calculator Formula
Understand the math behind the centripetal acceleration calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.
Formulas Used
Centripetal Acceleration
centripetal_accel = pow(velocity, 2) / radiusVariables
| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
velocity | Tangential Velocity(m/s) | 10 |
radius | Radius(m) | 5 |
How It Works
Centripetal Acceleration
An object moving in a circle at constant speed still accelerates because its direction changes.
Formula
a_c = v² / r
This acceleration always points toward the center of the circular path.
Worked Example
A car travels at 10 m/s around a curve of radius 5 m.
velocity = 10radius = 5
- 01a_c = v² / r
- 02a_c = 100 / 5
- 03a_c = 20 m/s²
Ready to run the numbers?
Open Centripetal Acceleration Calculator