Centripetal Force
Reference from the original Physics I textbook.
- Centripetal Force
The force that causes the object moving in a circular path to retain its circular movement. Examples of centripetal forces include frictional force on a car moving in a circle, tension in a string of a ball moving in a circle, etc.
- Related Glossary Terms
- Index
Glossary and deeper reading · 2 refreshers
These editorial refreshers supplement the reading. Definitions and examples are added guidance; original source wording and recorded answers remain in their original context.
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Centripetal force
Centripetal force names the inward net-force component required for motion along a circular path. It is supplied by actual interactions such as tension, friction, gravity, or normal forces rather than being an additional type of force. For example, gravity supplies the centripetal force on a satellite in a circular orbit.
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Centripetal acceleration
Centripetal acceleration is the inward acceleration component that changes the direction of motion along a curved path. For circular motion its magnitude is speed squared divided by the circle’s radius. For example, a car moving at constant speed around a bend still has centripetal acceleration.