Centrifugal Force Calculator

In circular motion, an object seems to be flung outward by something. That apparent outward pull is the centrifugal force.
The force actually doing the work is the centripetal one, pointing inward toward the centre and holding the object on its curve.
The two are the same phenomenon described from different places: from outside the turn, and from inside it.

The Formula

For an object moving in a circle:

F = m × v² / r

Or equivalently using angular velocity (ω in radians per second):

F = m × ω² × r

Where:

• F = centripetal/centrifugal force (Newtons, N)
• m = mass of the object (kilograms, kg)
• v = tangential velocity (meters per second, m/s)
• r = radius of the circular path (meters, m)
• ω = angular velocity (radians per second, rad/s)

Converting RPM to Angular Velocity

If you know the rotational speed in RPM (revolutions per minute): ω = RPM × 2π / 60

Practical Examples

A 1 kg object on a 0.5 m string spinning at 2 m/s: F = 1 × (2)² / 0.5 = 1 × 4 / 0.5 = 8 N

A car (1,500 kg) taking a turn at 20 m/s (72 km/h) with a curve radius of 50 m: F = 1500 × (20)² / 50 = 1500 × 400 / 50 = 12,000 N

This force must be provided by friction between tires and road. If friction is insufficient, the car slides outward.

Applications

• Washing machine spin cycles
• Centrifuge machines (medicine, chemistry)
• Rollercoasters and banked road curves
• Satellite orbits (centripetal = gravity)
• Industrial equipment and grinding wheels
• Blood plasma separation

Units

1 Newton (N) = 1 kg·m/s² 1 lbf (pound-force) = 4.448 N