1. Centrifuge: Part 2
Shaw STEM Lab 2017

5. Centrifuge and Centripetal Forces
Your team will experiment with the Centrifuge model and centripetal forces.
The Centrifuge model is a small model when compared to a centrifuge used to train pilots or astronauts. The centripetal forces you calculate will be very small, as a result your team will need to multiply the mass of your Gondola and the radius of your Centrifuge arm by 10 before reporting them on your data tables.
Note: In the data table you will need to determine the angle of the gondola. Use a protractor and design a strategy to measure the angle.
Gondola

6. Research: Part 1
Spin the Centrifuge at the appropriate revolutions per minute and measure the angle of the gondola for each trial.
Use the following formula to calculate the Force of your gondola.
The units for Force is Newtons.
Force = m r n2
m = mass of gondola
r = radius of centrifuge arm
n = revolutions per minute

7. Original Centrifuge Model Revolutions per minute
Research: Part 1
Original Centrifuge Model
Revolutions per minute
Mass of Gondola
Radius of Gondola
Force (Newtons)
Angle of Gondola 10 15 20 30 60

8. Centrifuge Model with Increased Arm Length Revolutions per minute
Research: Part 2
Centrifuge Model with Increased Arm Length
Increase the length of the centrifuge arm by replacing the original white rods with blue rods.
Revolutions per minute
Mass of Gondola
Radius of Gondola
Force (Newtons)
Angle of Gondola 10 15 20 30 60

9. Centrifuge Model with Decreased Arm Length Revolutions per minute
Research: Part 3
Centrifuge Model with Decreased Arm Length
Decrease the length of the arm by replacing the blue rods with green rods.
Revolutions per minute
Mass of Gondola
Radius of Gondola
Force (Newtons)
Angle of Gondola 10 15 20 30 60

10. Research
Which data chart produced the highest values of centripetal force? Explain why.
How did the angle of the gondola change as the speed of the centrifuge increased?
How did the centripetal force change as the speed of the centrifuge increased?