From the formula we can see that the centripetal force is directly proportional to the mass of the object and the square of its velocity. Thus increasing the mass or velocity of an object increases the centripetal force . The centripetal force equation , represented as F c = (m × v 2) ÷ r, determines the force necessary to maintain an object’s motion in a circular trajectory. It is denoted by F c and represents the inward force required to keep the object on its circular path, preventing it from moving in a straight line tangent to the circle. Learn what centripetal force is, how it acts on objects moving in circular paths, and how to calculate it using the formula F c = mv 2 /r. Explore the sources, examples, and applications of centripetal force in physics and engineering. Centripetal Acceleration For a velocity of m/s and radius m, the centripetal acceleration is m/s². Note that if the velocity is doubled to m/s at the same radius, the acceleration is quadrupled to m/s 2.