function result = centripetal (mass, velocity, radius)
%centripetal force calculate centripetal force of an object as it moves
%around a circle
%
% consumes: mass        mass (in grams) of the object
%           velocity    velocity (in m/s) of the object perpendicular to its radius
%           radius      radius (in meters) of the circle
%
% produces: result, the centripetal force of the object as it moves around a circle 
%
%
% examples:
%       >>  centripetal (1,4,2)
%       ans =
%            8
%       >>  centripetal (2,1,1)
%       ans =
%            2
%       >>   
%  Stephanie Countess for CISC106, 10 am, 10/01/2007

  result = (mass * velocity ^ 2) / radius;
  return;
end