Final answer:
A centrifuge is a device that rotates at high speeds to separate substances or particles of different densities. The centripetal acceleration can be calculated using the formula ac = rω², where r is the distance from the center and ω is the angular velocity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Centrifugation in Physics
A centrifuge is a device that rotates at a high speed to separate substances or particles of different densities. It creates a centrifugal force, which is the outward force acting on objects in rotation. The centrifugal force is directly proportional to the distance from the center of rotation and the square of the angular velocity.
To calculate the centripetal acceleration, we can use the formula:
ac = rω²
- Convert the given angular velocity from revolutions per minute (rev/min) to radians per second (rad/s).
- Substitute the values of r (distance from the center) and ω (angular velocity) into the formula.
- Solve for ac, which represents the centripetal acceleration.