Circular Motion
Rotational Motion
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Learn the physics ➡
An object moving in a circle showing centripetal force and velocity vectors — adjust radius, speed, and mass to explore the relationships.
What you can control
- slider: radius (m)
- slider: speed (m/s)
- slider: mass (kg)
- button: start
- button: pause
- button: reset
How this simulation works
Use the Radius slider to set how far from the centre the object travels (in metres), the Speed slider to set its tangential speed (in m/s), and the Mass slider to set its weight (in kg). Press Start to begin the orbit, Pause to freeze it mid-circle, and Reset to clear the screen. The centripetal force vector is drawn pointing inward alongside the velocity vector tangent to the path — together they show why circular motion requires a constant inward pull to keep the object curving.