An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The force exerted on an object in → circular motion which is directed toward the center and keeps the body in motion.
Centripetal force produces → centripetal acceleration, according to → Newton’s second law: F_c = ma_c. Its direction is always inward along the → radius vector, and its magnitude is given by: F_c= ma_c = mv_t²/r = mω²r.

See also: → centripetal; → force.