Centripetal Force
F_c = m·v^2/r
What it says
Centripetal force is a force that makes a body follow a curved path. Its direction is always orthogonal to the motion of the body and towards the fixed point of the instantaneous center of curvature of the path.
Symbols
| Symbol | Quantity | Dimension |
|---|---|---|
F_c | Centripetal force (N) | M L T^-2 |
m | Mass (kg) | M |
v | Tangential velocity (m/s) | L T^-1 |
r | Radius of the circular path (m) | L |
Work it out
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Connects to
Filed under Mechanics · derive through it in the explorer