🧲ap physics 2 review

Centripetal acceleration

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2027 exam
Verified for the 2027 examWritten by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025

Definition

The acceleration directed toward the center of a circular path, with magnitude v²/r; in this context, the acceleration of a charged particle moving in a magnetic field.

AP course connection

Topic 12.2: 12.2 Magnetism and Moving Charges

Unit 12

"Centripetal acceleration" also found in:

Centripetal acceleration Definition for AP Physics 2 | Fiveable