Calculate the centripetal acceleration based on tangential velocity and radius or angular velocity.
Learn how to use the Centripetal Acceleration Calculator and its working principles
Centripetal acceleration is the acceleration that causes an object to follow a curved path and is always directed toward the center of the curve. For an object moving in a circle of radius r with a constant speed v, the centripetal acceleration is given by:
a = v²/r = ω²r
Where:
If a car is moving at a speed of 20 m/s around a circular track with a radius of 100 meters, what is the centripetal acceleration?
Using the formula: a = v²/r = (20)²/100 = 400/100 = 4 m/s²