Instruction: Adjust speed & radius to watch the vectors scale, then click "Release Tether" to observe Newton's 1st Law.
Tangential Speed (v)2.0 m/s
Centripetal Accel (a_c = v²/r)1.33 m/s²
Inward Force (F_c = m·v²/r)2.67 N
2.0 m/s
3.0 m
2.0 kg
What to notice:"Centripetal" means center-seeking. Velocity is always tangent to the circle, while acceleration and force point directly inward. Doubling speed quadruples the required force (v²). Releasing tension sends the mass in a straight line along the tangent!