Enter the total change in position, radius, and time into the calculator to determine the centripetal velocity.

Centripetal Velocity Formula

The following equation is used to calculate the Centripetal Velocity.

Vc = D/(r*t)
  • Where Vc is the centripetal velocity (rad/s)
  • D is the distance traveled (m)
  • r is the radius (m)
  • t is the time (s)

To calculate the centripetal velocity, divide the distance by the product of the radius and time.

What is a Centripetal Velocity?

Definition:

A centripetal velocity is a measure of the angular velocity of an object relative to the radius of rotation.

How to Calculate Centripetal Velocity?

Example Problem:

The following example outlines the steps and information needed to calculate Centripetal Velocity.

First, determine the distance traveled. In this example, the distance traveled is found to be 30m.

Next, determine the radius. For this problem, the radius is found to be 10m.

Next, determine the time. In this case, the time is measured to be 6 seconds.

Finally, calculate the Centripetal Velocity using the formula above:

Vc = D/(r*t)

Vc = 30/(6*10)

Vc = .50 rad/s