Opposite of a centrifuge?

bastz

Hey all, first post here on PF.

This might be a stupid question, but I haven't been able to find if there is a machine that does the opposite of a centrifuge, specifically forcing material into the center of a circle. Or if there is a force that is reproducible on a small scale that does this.

Again, sorry if this is silly, but I'm thinking of making something and this is kind of crucial!

Thanks!

huntoon

Seems to me you could use a centrifuge that has capsules at the end of it. The heavier material is forced into the center bottom dome of the capsule.

potatoecannon

I can think of two examples:
1) Using high explosives (ie Nuclear Bomb ignition)
2) Using high energy lasers to detonate the surface of a fuel pellet (ie Fusion research)

If you have a particular application in mind it might be easier to come up with something more practical?

Travis_King

It depends on how much stuff, how quickly, etc.

A funnel forces everything to the center of a "circle".

huntoon

Dang, how'd we miss that one!? D'oh!!

Travis King is in beast mode.

jarroe

EMF in a ring around the substance you want pushed to the center.

Danger

Garbage disposal unit.

Jakeus314

A centrifuge does it... The lighter material moves toward the center. ;-)