Centripetal acceleration

Centripetal acceleration is the inward acceleration of an object moving along a circular path. Its magnitude is the square of the object's speed divided by the circle's radius.

Centripetal force: The net inward force that produces an object's circular motion. Newton's second law links this inward force to centripetal acceleration.
Acceleration: The rate of change of velocity with time. Centripetal acceleration is a specific acceleration caused by changing direction.
Banked turn: A road or track turn tilted so its surface helps provide the inward force needed for turning. The turn's required centripetal acceleration determines the appropriate banking angle.
Tangential acceleration: The component of acceleration along a path that changes an object's speed. It changes speed, whereas centripetal acceleration changes the direction of velocity.
Uniform circular motion: Motion along a circle at constant speed. Its changing velocity direction creates centripetal acceleration even when speed stays constant.
Velocity: A vector quantity describing an object's rate and direction of motion. Circular motion changes velocity continuously because its direction changes.
Orbital motion: The motion of an object around another under the influence of gravity or another central force. An orbiting body's inward acceleration continually bends its path around the central body.
Centrifugal acceleration: The apparent outward acceleration assigned to objects in a rotating reference frame. Its outward direction and rotating-frame interpretation contrast with centripetal acceleration.
Angular velocity: The rate at which an object's angular position changes over time. It gives an equivalent expression for centripetal acceleration when combined with radius.
Speed: The rate at which an object's position changes, without specifying direction. Its square sets centripetal acceleration when the circular radius is fixed.

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