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Circular motion & centripetal force calculator

Compute centripetal acceleration, centripetal force, angular speed, period, frequency, and ideal banked-curve angle.

All calculations run locally in your browser; no data leaves this page.

How to use (3 steps)

  1. Pick a mode: basic circular motion or banked curve angle.
  2. Enter radius, speed (or period/frequency/ω), optional mass, and gravity g (Earth/Moon/Mars presets help). Keep radius and speed in matching units; this tool does not auto-convert.
  3. Press Compute to see acceleration, force, period, frequency, or the banking angle. Copy URL shares your setup.

Default example: r = 10 m, v = 10 m/s, m = 1000 kg, g = 9.8 m/s². It auto-computes on load so you see the results immediately.

Inputs

Keep units consistent (no automatic unit conversion). If r is in meters, use m/s for v; if r is in km, use km/s. Basic mode can derive speed from period, frequency, or angular speed; banked mode only needs radius, speed, and g.

m
m/s
m/s²

Known quantity for speed

kg
s
1/s
rad/s

Only the selected speed input is enabled; others are derived but kept for sharing and reuse.

Results

How it is calculated

    FAQ

    How are centripetal force and centrifugal force different?

    Centripetal force is the inward force that keeps an object on a circular path. Centrifugal force appears only in a rotating frame as an outward “fictitious” force. This tool reports the inward centripetal force.

    Must gravity g always be 9.8?

    No. Earth is about 9.8 m/s², but you can switch g to explore the Moon, Mars, or any custom value. Use the presets for quick comparisons.

    What is the banked-curve mode for?

    It shows the ideal banking angle of a frictionless curve so a vehicle can turn without sliding. Real roads add friction and safety factors; this mode focuses on the core physics relationship.

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