Revs per min from metres per second

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The discussion centers on calculating the revolutions per second for a centrifuge based on given parameters, including the radius, mass of a red corpuscle, and the force required for it to settle. The initial approach involved calculating velocity using the formula F=(mv^2)/r, yielding a velocity of 154 m/s. To convert this velocity to revolutions per second, the user struggled with the correct application of formulas, initially arriving at an incorrect value. Guidance was provided to square root the angular velocity result before dividing by 2π to find the correct answer of 140.3 rev/sec. The conversation emphasizes the importance of correctly applying physics formulas in rotational motion calculations.
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okay so here is the problem and here is wat I did!
I am just tryin to study up for exams now... and this is one of the problems!

A sample of blood is placed in a centrifuge of radius 17.5 cm. The mass of a red corpuscle is 3.00×10-16 kg, and the magnitude of the force required to make it settle out of the plasma is 4.08×10-11 N. At how many revolutions per second should the centrifuge be operated?

Basically wat I did is found the velocity in metres per second first which I find is 154m/s which I found by usin F=(mv^2)/r
But here is the simple problem that I am confused about... how do I change this to revs/sec. Is it somethin to do with C=2PIr, that's all I can think of!
Thanks for your help!
 
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Taryn said:
Basically wat I did is found the velocity in metres per second first which I find is 154m/s which I found by usin F=(mv^2)/r
But here is the simple problem that I am confused about... how do I change this to revs/sec. Is it somethin to do with C=2PIr, that's all I can think of!
Thanks for your help!

You could do it that way, however it is easier to remember that if we resolve Newton's second law radially we achieve;

F = m\alpha

Where alpha is centripetal acceleration and \alpha = r\omega^2 where omega is angular velocity (rads/s). Thus;

\fbox{F = mr\omega^2}

You method is completely valid, but is a bit long winded :biggrin:. You can convert radians per second into revolutions per second by dividing by 2\pi.
 
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okay I did that and now I am so far off... I did 123686.127rev/sec.
so wat I did was w^2=f/mr
but then I got that in rads per second =7.77E5 which is bigger then I expected.
So I then divided by 2*PI... then it was wrong... the answer is meant to be 140.3
 
Taryn said:
okay I did that and now I am so far off... I did 123686.127rev/sec.
so wat I did was w^2=f/mr
but then I got that in rads per second =7.77E5 which is bigger then I expected.
So I then divided by 2*PI... then it was wrong... the answer is meant to be 140.3

You forgot to square root the 7.77x105. If you square root that value then divide by 2\pi you sould obtain the correct answer.
 
thanks a lot I appreciate it, I thought I did sqaure root the answer but now I got the right answer.! ;P
 
Taryn said:
thanks a lot I appreciate it, I thought I did sqaure root the answer but now I got the right answer.! ;P

No problem :smile:
 
Hootenanny said:
You could do it that way, however it is easier to remember that if we resolve Newton's second law radially we achieve;

F = m\alpha

Where alpha is angular acceleration and \alpha = r\omega^2 where omega is angular velocity (rads/s). Thus;

\fbox{F = mr\omega^2}
I am sure you meant to say that the quantity r\omega^2 = v^2/r is the centripetal acceleration not angular acceleration.

AM
 
Andrew Mason said:
I am sure you meant to say that the quantity r\omega^2 = v^2/r is the centripetal acceleration not angular acceleration.

AM

Thank-you andrew, duly corrected.
 
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