Centrifugation

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​Objectives

• Understand and describe the centrifugation method.

• Demonstrate the process of centrifugation to separate components of a mixture.

One can easily observe centrifugal force in real life by tying a stone to a thread and swirling it around. While performing this experiment, a force is felt on the stone that tends to move it away from the center. This force is called the centrifugal force.

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​A Stone Tied to a Thread

The children playing on a merry-go-round ride experience an outward force that tends to throw them on the outer side. This force grows intense upon increasing the speed of rotation. If the safety precautions are not met properly, this centrifugal force might lead to accidents.

​Merry-Go-Round

The centrifugal pumps are the most preferred systems in hydraulics. It consists of an impeller, which is thoroughly immersed in water. When the impeller rotates, the fluid present around it also rotates. While the water undergoes rotation, it encounters centrifugal force because the water is thrown to the outward side. This causes pressure and kinetic energy to rise. Low pressure is developed at the center of the rotating impeller blades. Therefore, the water from the container is easily drawn out.

​Centrifugal Pumps

The rotating mechanism of the machine is responsible to push the clothes, water, and dirt particles to the outer side of the drum. This dirt then gets collected in the pouch attached to the inner side of the container. Hence, the clothes get cleaned properly.

​Washing Machine

A swinging fair ride consist of a huge rotating head pivoted on a cylindrical pole. A number of swings are attached to the base of the rotating head. When this arrangement is subjected to rotational motion, the swings attached to the bottom of the ride move away from the center. This creates a fancy and thrilling motion in the attached swings, leading to an adventurous ride.

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​Swinging Fair Ride

The planets moving around the sun maintain their rotational motion and do not fall in the center. This is because a significant amount of centrifugal force is experienced by all the celestial bodies that are revolving around the sun. Hence, centrifugal force is important in maintaining the planetary orbits. This phenomenon is also responsible to suggest the notion of expansion of the universe and the story of its origin.

​Planetary Orbits 

• ​The method chosen to separate mixtures largely depends on the type and properties of the mixture.

• Centrifugation is particularly useful for mixtures with fine particles that don't easily settle.