Centrifugal/Centripetal Acceleration

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the centripetal acceleration of a test tube in a lab centrifuge rotating at 4000 RPM. The user initially used a radius of 5 cm instead of the correct 10 cm, leading to an incorrect acceleration calculation of 8772.98 m/s². The correct approach involves using the formula for centripetal acceleration, a = (v²)/r, with the proper radius to achieve accurate results. The user was advised to recalculate using the correct radius of 10 cm.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of centripetal acceleration and its formula a = (v²)/r
  • Basic knowledge of rotational motion and RPM (revolutions per minute)
  • Ability to convert units, specifically from RPM to meters per second
  • Familiarity with the concept of radius in circular motion
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn how to convert RPM to linear velocity in meters per second
  • Study the implications of radius on centripetal acceleration
  • Explore practical applications of centripetal acceleration in laboratory settings
  • Investigate the effects of varying RPM on acceleration in centrifuges
USEFUL FOR

Students in physics, laboratory technicians, and anyone involved in experiments using centrifuges will benefit from this discussion.

thebigeis
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This question is actually posted up, but not under a very descriptive title so I'm reposting it and hoping the admin will just close my other one... sorry. Anyway, here is my problem-

#1) A typical lab centrifuge rotates at 4000rpm. Test tubes have to be placed into a centrifuge very carefully because of the very large accelerations. What is the acceleration at the end of a test tube that is 10cm from the axis of rotation in?

What I've already done is find the circumference of the circle, multiplied that by how many revs in a minute the lab does, divide that by 60 to get it in how many revs it does per second, then plug it into the centripetal acceleration equation a=(v^2)/r.

Work:
Known- 4000rpm, r=5cm
Find-a

4000rpm * (2pi(r=5)) = 1256.6m/min
1256.6/60 = 20.94m/s
a = ((v=20.94)^2)/(r=.05m) = 8772.98m/s^2

Obviously, this isn't right; so what do I need to do?
 
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thebigeis said:
Work:
Known- 4000rpm, r=5cm
Find-a

4000rpm * (2pi(r=5)) = 1256.6m/min
1256.6/60 = 20.94m/s
a = ((v=20.94)^2)/(r=.05m) = 8772.98m/s^2

Obviously, this isn't right; so what do I need to do?
Why are you using 5 cm as the radius? Should it not be 10 cm?

AM
 

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