Calculating Revolutions/Minute for Centrifuge at 4.62 cm Radius

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The discussion revolves around calculating the revolutions per minute (RPM) of a centrifuge sample located at a radius of 4.62 cm, given a centripetal acceleration 5.05E3 times that of gravity. Participants clarify that the correct approach involves using angular velocity rather than linear velocity. The radius must be converted to meters for accurate calculations. The formula for centripetal acceleration is discussed, leading to the conclusion that the angular velocity can be derived in radians per second and then converted to revolutions per second. Ultimately, the conversation emphasizes the importance of unit consistency and the correct application of physics formulas.
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ok, you are using a centrifuge. the centripetal acceleration of the sample is 5.05E3 times larger than the accelleration due to gravity. how many revolutions/minute is the sample making if it is located at a radius of 4.62 cm from the axis of rotation?

i think i use: centripetal accellearion = (v^2)/r
so... 5.05E6*9.8m/s = v^2 / 4.62cm
v = 47.8167 rev/min. but i get it incorrect.. any hints?
 
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Why take 5.05^6 times g, instead of the given 5.05^3?

Edit: Nevermind, that was a typo, you used the correct value.

But v is the velocity, not the number of revolutions per minute.
The time it takes (in seconds) for one revolution is T=\frac{2\pi r}{v}
 
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oops sorry. i meant 5.05^3 in my calculations. i used it, but just typed it here wrong.
 
ok, in my first equation. when i have the radius, should that be 4.62cm or .0462m ? because i used .0462m even though i wrote 4.62cm
 
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ok, you are using a centrifuge. the centripetal acceleration of the sample is 5.05E3 times larger than the accelleration due to gravity. how many revolutions/minute is the sample making if it is located at a radius of 4.62 cm from the axis of rotation?

i think i use: centripetal accellearion = (v^2)/r
so... 5.05E6*9.8m/s = v^2 / 4.62cm
v = 47.8167 rev/min. but i get it incorrect.. any hints?
You want angular velocity, you're using the linear velocity formula!
Just use simple substitution...
r = Radius
Because v = rw (Where w is angular velocity)
Centripetal Acceleration = (rw)^2/r Which gives:
(r^2w^2)/r = rw^2
And Radius should ALWAYS be in metres, unless asked otherwise..
Just solve for w.
 
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so everything i did was wrong? ok.
ok so i took:
5.05E3*9.8 = .0462w^2
w=1034.993778 and is that revolution/sec?
is that better?
 
anyone :cry:
 
matchboxdude said:
so everything i did was wrong? ok.
ok so i took:
5.05E3*9.8 = .0462w^2
w=1034.993778 and is that revolution/sec?
is that better?
That would radians per second. You traverse 2\pi radians in one revolution, so dividing \omegaby 2\pi will give the number of revolutions per second.<br /> <br /> And no, it's not true that everything you did was wrong. You could take<br /> f=\frac{1}{T}=\frac{v}{2\pi r} which also gives the number of revolutions per second.
 

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