Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Centripetal Force is the force that keeps an object moving in a circular path, directed towards the center of the circle.
Related terms
Centrifugal Force: The apparent outward force experienced by an object moving in a curved path, which is actually just inertia trying to keep it moving in a straight line.
Tangential Velocity: The linear speed of an object along its circular path.
Radius of Curvature: The radius of the circle at any given point on a curved path.