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INPUT   DATA

♥ EXAMPLE Of Input/Output

Title

Radius of rotor, r		cm
Rotary speed, N		rpm
Relative centrifugal force, F		"g-force"

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OUTPUT   VARIABLES   &   GRAPHS

Variables	Values	Units
♦  Rotary speed, N		rpm
♦  Relative centrifugal force, F		"g-force"

Relative Centrifugal Force (RCF)

Centrifugation is a process that applies centrifugal force for the separation of mixtures in science laboratories. It is used for separating molecules having different densities by spinning them in a solution around an axis at high speed.

The rate of centrifugation is specified by the acceleration applied to the sample, typically measured in g. The acceleration due to gravity on the Earth's surface at sea level is equivalent to 1 g (= 9.807 m/s2, or 32.174 ft/s2); g-force or g-load is a force-equivalent, equal to 9.807 N/kg. The governing equation is:

     F = 11.17x10^-6rN²

where
     F = relative centrifugal force in g-Force units
     r = distance from centerline of rotor to a point in the centrifuge tube, cm
     N = speed of rotation, revolutions per minute

Tips

    ◊ You should enter either the rotary speed to determine the centrifugal force, or enter the centrifugal force to determine the rotary speed. You cannot enter both speed and force.

    ◊ Use link EXAMPLE Of Input/Output  to demo data entry expectations and results; you may edit & use it as starting point

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Stephenson FH; Calculations For Molecular Biology And Biotechnology: A guide to mathematics in the laboratory; Academic Press, An Imprint of Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2003
• Ratnam S & March SB; Effect of relative centrifugal force and centrifugation time on sedimentation of mycobacteria in clinical specimens; J. Clinical Microbiology, Mar 1986, 23(3): 582–585