Centripetal and Centrifugal Force - Formula, Example, FAQs

Centripetal and Centrifugal Force - Definition, Formula, Example, FAQs

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Nov 11, 2024 11:37 AM IST

What is the Centripetal and Centrifugal Force Formula?

Centripetal force is defined as a center directed force acting perpendicular to the direction of motion of an object moving in a circular path.
Let's understand this definition more deeply with the help of an example. Assume a boy rotating a ball tied with a string in a circular path. At every instant, the direction of the ball changes which leads to the change in velocity (as velocity, v=∆x/∆t ) and further change in acceleration (as acceleration, a=∆v/∆t ). As the ball is accelerating, there must be a force acting on it (as Force, F= ma ). Now if we cut the string, the ball will move in the direction tangential to the circular path which means that the actual direction of motion of the ball is perpendicular to the string but due to the centre directed force acting on the ball due to the string, the balls keep on rotating in the circular path.

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This Story also Contains

What is the Centripetal and Centrifugal Force Formula?
Calculating Centripetal Force
Example of Centripetal Force of Centripetal Force
What is Centrifugal Force?
Calculating Centrifugal Force
Example of Centripetal Force or Centrifugal Force examples in daily life:
Difference between Centripetal and Centrifugal Force:

Centripetal and Centrifugal Force - Definition, Formula, Example, FAQs

LiveJEE Main 2025 Live: Exam city slip soon at jeemain.nta.nic.in; admit card date, cut-off updatesDec 30, 2024 | 10:30 PM IST

Candidates can have a look at the JEE Main 2025 physics syllabus below.

JEE Main 2025 physics topics	Number of questions	Marks
Modern Physics	5	20
Heat and Thermodynamics	3	12
Optics	3	12
Current Electricity	3	12
Electrostatics	3	12
Magnetics	2	8
Unit, Dimension and Vector	1	4
Kinematics	1	4
Laws of Motion	1	4
Work, Power and Energy	1	4
Centre of Mass, Impulse, and Momentum	1	4
Rotation	1	4
Gravitation	1	4
Simple Harmonic Motion	1	4
Solids and Fluids	1	4
Waves	1	4
Electromagnetics Induction; AC	1	4

Centripetal force

Thus, we can say that the force acting on the ball and the actual direction of motion of the ball are at right angle to each other. This type of center directed force which is perpendicular to the direction of the motion of the object is known as Centripetal Force.

Also read -

Calculating Centripetal Force

The formula to calculate centripetal force is defined as the ratio of the product of mass (in kg) and square of the velocity of the object (in meter per second) to the radius of the circular path ( in meters) in which it is moving. As it is a force, the unit of Centripetal force is Newton (N).

F=mv²/r

where, F ?Centripetal Force

m ?Mass of the Object

v ?Velocity of the Object

r ?Radius of the Circular Path

Example of Centripetal Force of Centripetal Force

Let’s see some common examples of centripetal force, in order to understand its applications more correctly.

Spinning a ball tied to a string:- In this case, when the ball tied to the string rotates in a circular motion, the centripetal force is provided by the tension on the string which pulls the ball towards the center.

Planets revolving around the sun:- All the planets revolve around the sun due to the centripetal force provided by the gravity of the sun which pulls all the planets towards it

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A car turning at a curve:- A travelling car, taking a turn at a curve on the road experiences the centripetal force provided by the friction between the road and the wheels of the car.

Merry go round:- A child riding on a merry go round experiences a centripetal force through the support which hold the child from being thrown out.

Electrons revolving around the nucleus:- An electron does not fall into the nucleus in spite of strong nuclear attraction is due to the centripetal force provided by the electrostatic attraction between the electron and the nucleus.

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What is Centrifugal Force?

Centrifugal force is defined as a fictitious force acting away from the center of a circular path in which an object is moving.

Let's understand this definition more deeply with the help of an example. Assume a car with a passenger in it is travelling on a straight road. Suddenly, a left turn arrives and the car turns in the left direction.

Centrifugal Force

As the car is moving in a circular path the force experienced by the car is the centripetal force which is towards the center of the circular turn but the force experienced by the passenger within the car is towards the right direction which pushes him outside the car. This outward fictitious force experienced by the passenger due to inertia is known as Centrifugal Force.

Centrifugal force only comes into play when there is a centripetal force acting on an object.

Also read :

Calculating Centrifugal Force

The formula to calculate Centrifugal force is defined as the negative ratio of the product of mass (in kg) and square of the velocity of the object (in meter per second) to the radius of the circular path ( in meters) in which it is moving. As it is a force, the unit of the centrifugal force is a Newton (N).

Fc = -mv²/r

where Fc ?Centripetal Force

m ?Mass of the Object

v ?Velocity of the Object

r ?Radius of the Circular Path

The formula for centrifugal force is the same as that of centripetal force but with a negative sign as the centrifugal force is directed outward from the center.

Example of Centripetal Force or Centrifugal Force examples in daily life:

Let’s see some common examples of the centripetal force of Centrifugal force, in order to understand its applications more correctly.

The force experienced by a passenger travelling in a car turning at a curved path is Centrifugal force.
A boy rotating a ball tied through a string, the outward force exerted on his hands is centrifugal force.
As the centrifugal force acting on an object in the equator is greatest, the earth is flattened at the pole and bulged at the equator.

Also check-

Difference between Centripetal and Centrifugal Force:

The concept of centripetal force and centrifugal force is often confused, they are closely related to each other.. To understand them more correctly, here are some detailed differences between them.

CENTRIPETAL FORCE	CENTRIFUGAL FORCE
Centripetal force is a real force	Centrifugal is an apparent force.
The formula for centripetal force is F=mv²/r	The formula for centrifugal force is Fc = -mv²/r
The direction of Centripetal force if from the object towards the center	The direction of centrifugal force is from the center towards the object.
It causes the moving object to turn towards the cente	It causes the object to move straight in its original direction without turning towards the center.
Centripetal force is caused by different factors such as tension, gravitational pull, electrostatic attraction etc.	Centrifugal force is caused by the inertia of any object.
For example :- Planets revolving around the sun, Merry go round etc.	For example :- The outward force acting on a passenger when the car takes a turn on a curve.

NCERT Physics Notes :

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Define Centripetal force and give its formula.

The center directed force acting perpendicular to the direction of motion of an object moving in a circular path is defined as centripetal force. The formula to calculate centripetal force is

F=mv²/r

2. Define Centrifugal force and give its formula.

A fictitious force acting away from the center of a circular path in which an object is moving is known as centrifugal force. The formula to calculate centrifugal force is

Fc =-mv²/r

3. A car of mass 500 kg traveling at a velocity of 20m/ sec in a circular path of radius 4m. Calculate the centripetal force experienced by the car.

Mass of car, m = 500kg

Velocity of car, v = 20 m/sec

Radius of the circular path, r = 4m

To calculate :- Centripetal Force

Formula for centripetal force is

F=mv²/r

F=50000 N

Hence, the Centripetal force experienced by the car is 50,000 N.

4. States use common example of centripetal force of centripetal force.

Some common example of centripetal force of centripetal force are.

A child riding on a merry go round experiences a centripetal force through the support which hold the child from being thrown out.
A car turning at a curved path, experiences the centripetal force due to the friction between the wheels and the road.

5. If the centripetal force acting a body moving in a circular motion is 20 N, what will be the centrifugal force experienced by it.

The centrifugal force experienced by the body is -20N because centrifugal force is same as that of centripetal force but with a negative sign as the centrifugal force is directed outward from the center and centripetal force is directed toward the center.