Centripetal Acceleration Calculator

Formula

The formula to calculate the Centripetal Acceleration is:

\[ a = \frac{V^2}{r} \]

Where:

\( a \) is the Centripetal Acceleration (m/s²)
\( V \) is the Tangential Velocity (m/s)
\( r \) is the Radius (m)

What is Centripetal Acceleration?

Centripetal acceleration is the rate of change of angular velocity or speed. It is directed towards the center of the circular path and is necessary for an object to maintain its circular motion. This acceleration keeps the object moving along a curved path by continuously changing its direction.

Example Calculation

Let's assume the following values:

Tangential Velocity (V) = 20 m/s
Radius (r) = 5 m

Using the formula to calculate the Centripetal Acceleration:

\[ a = \frac{V^2}{r} = \frac{20^2}{5} = \frac{400}{5} = 80 \text{ m/s}^2 \]

The Centripetal Acceleration is 80 m/s².