Centrifugal Force Calculator
Use our centrifugal force calculator to solve force, mass, radius, or velocity.
Centrifugal Force:
Centrifugal Force Formula
Mass Formula
Radius Formula
| Tangential Velocity: | |
| Angular Velocity: |
Tangential Velocity Formula
Angular Velocity Formula
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How to Calculate Centrifugal Force
Centrifugal force is a fictitious force that seems to act outward on a mass undergoing circular motion when observed from a rotating frame of reference. This force is not the result of any physical interaction but rather a result of the inertia of the body moving in a circle; it is the body’s resistance to change in its state of motion.
The term “centrifugal” comes from Latin words meaning “fleeing the center,” which describes the direction in which this force appears to act.
Unlike centripetal force, it is not a true force in the traditional sense, but rather a perceived force that arises in rotating reference frames.
The Centrifugal Force Formula
The formula to calculate centrifugal force F is:
F = mv² / r
Where:
F = centrifugal force (in N)
m = mass of the object moving in the circle (in kg)
v = velocity of the object (in m/s)
r = radius of the circular path (in m)
The centrifugal force F is equal to the mass of an object m times its velocity v squared, divided by the radius of its path r.
For example, let’s consider child riding a merry-go-round that is rotating with a velocity of 2 meters per second and the child is sitting 3 meters from the center. The child weighs 40 kg.
To find the centrifugal force acting on the child, we can use the formula above:
F = 40 kg × 2 m⁄s² / 3 m
F = 53.33 N
Thus, the child experiences an apparent outward force of 53.33 Newtons due to centrifugal force.