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a c = v 2 r a c = 2 . size 12{a rSub { size 8{c} } = { {v rSup { size 8{2} } } over {r} } `; a rSub { size 8{c} } =rω rSup { size 8{2} } "."} {}

Recall that the direction of a c size 12{a rSub { size 8{c} } } {} is toward the center. You may use whichever expression is more convenient, as illustrated in examples below.

A centrifuge (see [link] b) is a rotating device used to separate specimens of different densities. High centripetal acceleration significantly decreases the time it takes for separation to occur, and makes separation possible with small samples. Centrifuges are used in a variety of applications in science and medicine, including the separation of single cell suspensions such as bacteria, viruses, and blood cells from a liquid medium and the separation of macromolecules, such as DNA and protein, from a solution. Centrifuges are often rated in terms of their centripetal acceleration relative to acceleration due to gravity ( g ) size 12{g} {} ; maximum centripetal acceleration of several hundred thousand g is possible in a vacuum. Human centrifuges, extremely large centrifuges, have been used to test the tolerance of astronauts to the effects of accelerations larger than that of Earth’s gravity.

How does the centripetal acceleration of a car around a curve compare with that due to gravity?

What is the magnitude of the centripetal acceleration of a car following a curve of radius 500 m at a speed of 25.0 m/s (about 90 km/h)? Compare the acceleration with that due to gravity for this fairly gentle curve taken at highway speed. See [link] (a).

Strategy

Because v size 12{v} {} and r size 12{r} {} are given, the first expression in a c = v 2 r a c = 2 size 12{a rSub { size 8{c} } = { {v rSup { size 8{2} } } over {r} } `; a rSub { size 8{c} } =rω rSup { size 8{2} } } {} is the most convenient to use.

Solution

Entering the given values of v = 25 . 0 m/s size 12{v="25" "." 0`"m/s"} {} and r = 500 m size 12{r="500"} {} into the first expression for a c size 12{a rSub { size 8{c} } } {} gives

a c = v 2 r = ( 25 . 0 m/s ) 2 500 m = 1 . 25 m/s 2 . size 12{a rSub { size 8{c} } = { {v rSup { size 8{2} } } over {r} } = { { \( "25" "." 0" m/s" \) rSup { size 8{2} } } over {"500 m"} } =1 "." "25"" m/s" rSup { size 8{2} } "."} {}

Discussion

To compare this with the acceleration due to gravity ( g = 9 . 80 m/s 2 ) size 12{g=9 "." 8`"m/s" rSup { size 8{2} } } {} , we take the ratio of a c / g = 1 . 25 m/s 2 / 9 . 80 m/s 2 = 0 . 128 size 12{a rSub { size 8{c} } /g= left (1 "." "25"`"m/s" rSup { size 8{2} } right )/ left (9 "." "80"`"m/s" rSup { size 8{2} } right )=0 "." "128"} {} . Thus, a c = 0 . 128 g size 12{a rSub { size 8{c} } =0 "." "128"} {} and is noticeable especially if you were not wearing a seat belt.

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In figure a, a car shown from top is running on a circular road around a circular path. The center of the park is termed as the center of this circle and the distance from this point to the car is taken as radius r. The linear velocity is shown in perpendicular direction toward the front of the car, shown as v the centripetal acceleration is shown with an arrow pointed towards the center of rotation. In figure b, a centrifuge is shown an object of mass m is rotating in it at a constant speed. The object is at the distance equal to the radius, r, of the centrifuge. The centripetal acceleration is shown towards the center of rotation, and the velocity, v is shown perpendicular to the object in the clockwise direction.
(a) The car following a circular path at constant speed is accelerated perpendicular to its velocity, as shown. The magnitude of this centripetal acceleration is found in [link] . (b) A particle of mass in a centrifuge is rotating at constant angular velocity . It must be accelerated perpendicular to its velocity or it would continue in a straight line. The magnitude of the necessary acceleration is found in [link] .

How big is the centripetal acceleration in an ultracentrifuge?

Calculate the centripetal acceleration of a point 7.50 cm from the axis of an ultracentrifuge    spinning at 7.5 × 10 4 rev/min. Determine the ratio of this acceleration to that due to gravity. See [link] (b).

Strategy

The term rev/min stands for revolutions per minute. By converting this to radians per second, we obtain the angular velocity ω size 12{ω} {} . Because r size 12{r} {} is given, we can use the second expression in the equation a c = v 2 r ; a c = 2 size 12{a rSub { size 8{c} } = { {v rSup { size 8{2} } } over {r} } `; a rSub { size 8{c} } =rω rSup { size 8{2} } } {} to calculate the centripetal acceleration.

Solution

To convert 7 . 50 × 10 4 rev / min size 12{7 "." "50" times "10" rSup { size 8{4} } {"rev"} slash {"min"} } {} to radians per second, we use the facts that one revolution is rad size 12{2π`"rad"} {} and one minute is 60.0 s. Thus,

ω = 7.50 × 10 4 rev min × rad 1 rev × 1 min 60 . 0 s = 7854  rad/s. size 12{ω="75","000" { {"rev"} over {"min"} } times { {2π" rad"} over {"1 rev"} } times { {1" min"} over {"60" "." "0 s"} } ="7850"" rad/s."} {}

Now the centripetal acceleration is given by the second expression in a c = v 2 r a c = 2 size 12{a rSub { size 8{c} } = { {v rSup { size 8{2} } } over {r} } `; a rSub { size 8{c} } =rω rSup { size 8{2} } } {} as

a c = 2 . size 12{a rSub { size 8{c} } =rω rSup { size 8{2} } "."} {}

Converting 7.50 cm to meters and substituting known values gives

a c = ( 0 . 0750 m ) ( 7854 rad/s ) 2 = 4 . 63 × 10 6 m/s 2 . size 12{a rSub { size 8{c} } = \( 0 "." "0750"" m" \) \( "7850"" rad/s" \) rSup { size 8{2} } =4 "." "62" times "10" rSup { size 8{6} } " m/s" rSup { size 8{2} } } {}

Note that the unitless radians are discarded in order to get the correct units for centripetal acceleration. Taking the ratio of a c size 12{a rSub { size 8{c} } } {} to g size 12{g} {} yields

a c g = 4 . 63 × 10 6 9 . 80 = 4 . 72 × 10 5 . size 12{ { {a rSub { size 8{c} } } over {g} } = { {4 "." "62" times "10" rSup { size 8{6} } } over {9 "." "80"} } 4 "." "71" times "10" rSup { size 8{5} } } {}

Discussion

This last result means that the centripetal acceleration is 472,000 times as strong as g size 12{g} {} . It is no wonder that such high ω size 12{ω} {} centrifuges are called ultracentrifuges. The extremely large accelerations involved greatly decrease the time needed to cause the sedimentation of blood cells or other materials.

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Source:  OpenStax, College physics. OpenStax CNX. Jul 27, 2015 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11406/1.9
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