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Centripetal Force

AQA A-level PhysicsCircular MotionLesson 6 of 9

Applying Newton's second law F = ma to the centripetal acceleration gives F = mv2/r

Since v = r ω , the centripetal force

F = mω2r.


Diagram

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Key terms in this lesson

Centripetal acceleration
The acceleration of an object moving in a circle at constant speed, directed towards the centre of the circle, equal to v squared over r.

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