A centrifuge is a device in which a small container of material is rotated at a

Question

A centrifuge is a device in which a small container of material is rotated at a high speed on a circular path. Such a device is used in medical laboratories, for instance, to cause the more dense red blood cells to settle through the less dense blood serum and collect at the bottom of the container. Suppose the centripetal acceleration of the sample is 5.55 x 103 times as large as the acceleration due to gravity. How many revolutions per minute is the sample making, if it is located at a radius of 7.96 cm from the axis of rotation?

Explanation / Answer

5.55*10^3*g = w^2*r, solve for w, w = 827 rad/sec or 132 rev/sec, multiply by 60 to find 7.89*10^3 revolutions per minute.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.