Lecture 1 - Centrifugation Flashcards
1
Q
What is a centrifuge?
A
A centrifuge uses
centrifugal force to
isolate suspended
particles from their
surrounding medium.
2
Q
What are some applications of centrifugation?
A
- Sedimentation of cells and viruses
- Separation of sub cellular organelles
- Isolation of macromolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins or lipids)
3
Q
Define Revolutions per minute (RPM)?
A
A unit for expressing the number
of complete rotations per minute, a measure of speed
&
This is when centrifugal force causes the particles to move radially away from the axis of rotation.
4
Q
What is the Relative Centrifugal Force (RCF)?
A
The force that tends to impel matter
outward from a centre of
rotation
5
Q
What 3 variables is centrifugal force dependant on?
A
Mass, speed, and radius
6
Q
What is Centripetal force?
A
normal force that pushes the object toward the
center of the circular path of travel.
7
Q
Formula for RCF
A
RCF = 1.12r (RPM/1000)2
