Centripetal force

The formula for centripetal force is F = mv²/r, where m is the mass of the object, v is its velocity, and r is the radius of the circular path. This equation dictates that the force increases with higher speeds or heavier objects and decreases as the circular path gets wider.

Centripetal force is the actual net force pulling an object inward toward the center of its circular path, keeping it in orbit. Centrifugal force is a perceived fictitious force that pushes the object outward, which is actually just the object's own inertia resisting the change in direction.

A common example is the tension in a string that keeps a yo-yo moving in a circle when you swing it around your head. Another example is the friction between car tires and the road, which provides the necessary centripetal force to navigate a curved highway off-ramp.

No, centripetal force only changes the direction of an object's velocity, not its actual speed or kinetic energy. Because the force vector always points exactly perpendicular to the object's motion, it does no work on the object, resulting in uniform circular motion.