Calculate the centrifugal force acting on a rotating object by entering the mass, radius of rotation, and either the angular velocity (in rad/s or RPM) or linear velocity. You get back the centrifugal force in Newtons, the centripetal acceleration, and a breakdown of the rotational parameters.
Centrifugal Force
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Centripetal Acceleration
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Angular Velocity
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Rotational Speed
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Tangential Velocity
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Relative Centrifugal Force (RCF)
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Centrifugal force is the apparent outward force experienced by an object moving in a circular path when observed from a rotating reference frame. It is often called a 'fictitious' or 'pseudo' force because it does not arise from a physical interaction but rather from the inertia of the object trying to move in a straight line.
The centrifugal force is calculated as F = m × ω² × r, where m is the mass of the object, ω is the angular velocity in rad/s, and r is the radius of rotation. Equivalently, F = m × v² / r, where v is the linear (tangential) velocity.
To convert RPM to angular velocity, use the formula ω = RPM × 2π / 60. For example, 300 RPM equals 300 × 2π / 60 ≈ 31.42 rad/s. This calculator performs this conversion automatically when you select RPM as your velocity input.
For a turning car, use its mass (m), the turning radius (r), and the speed (v). The centrifugal force is F = m × v² / r. For example, a 1,500 kg car taking a 50 m radius turn at 20 m/s experiences F = 1500 × 400 / 50 = 12,000 N of centrifugal force.
Relative Centrifugal Force (RCF), also expressed as g-force, is the ratio of the centrifugal acceleration to the standard gravitational acceleration (9.80665 m/s²). It is commonly used in centrifuge settings and is calculated as RCF = ω² × r / g, or approximately RCF = 1.118 × 10⁻⁵ × RPM² × r (with r in mm).
It depends on the mass and rotational speed. For a 50 kg person on a 1 m radius merry-go-round spinning at 20 RPM (ω ≈ 2.09 rad/s), the centrifugal force is F = 50 × (2.09)² × 1 ≈ 218 N. Use this calculator to try different speeds and masses.
Centripetal force is the real inward force that keeps an object moving in a circular path (e.g., tension in a string or friction from a road). Centrifugal force is the equal and opposite apparent outward force felt by the object in the rotating frame. They are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.
Yes. If you know the tangential (linear) velocity v and the radius r, the centrifugal force is F = m × v² / r. The angular velocity can be derived as ω = v / r. This calculator supports all three input methods — RPM, angular velocity in rad/s, and linear velocity in m/s.