Centrifugal Force Calculator
Centrifugal force is the apparent outward force experienced by an object in a rotating reference frame. While it is a fictitious (pseudo) force, it has real physical effects that engineers and physicists must account for. This calculator determines the centrifugal force magnitude, the angular velocity, and the centripetal acceleration for an object moving in a circular path.
In a rotating reference frame, an object appears to be pushed outward by a centrifugal force F = mv²/r = mω²r. This has the same magnitude as the centripetal force but acts in the opposite direction. While centripetal force is the real inward force causing circular motion, centrifugal force is how that motion feels to a rotating observer.
The centripetal acceleration a = v²/r points toward the center and is the actual acceleration the object experiences. For a car on a circular track, the tires provide centripetal friction inward; the driver feels pushed outward (centrifugal). For a satellite in orbit, gravity provides the centripetal force while the astronaut feels weightless because everything accelerates together.
Centrifugal force applications are widespread: centrifuges separate materials by density, washing machines spin-dry clothes, amusement park rides create thrilling sensations, and industrial processes use centrifugal casting. In engineering design, rotating machinery must withstand centrifugal stresses that grow with the square of rotational speed.