---
title: "The ultracentrifuge is an important tool for separating and analyzing proteins. Because of the enormous centripetal accelerations, the centrifuge must be carefully balanced, with each sample matched by a sample of identical mass on the opposite side. Any difference in the masses of opposing samples creates a net force on the shaft of the rotor, potentially leading to a catastrophic failure of the apparatus. Suppose a scientist makes a slight error in sample preparation and one sample has a mass 10 mg larger than the opposing sample.   If the samples are 12 cm from the axis of the rotor and the ultracentrifuge spins at 60000 rpm, what is the magnitude of the net force on the rotor due to the unbalanced samples?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/19964/"
date_modified: "2025-03-14T04:52:35+00:00"
---

# The ultracentrifuge is an important tool for separating and analyzing proteins. Because of the enormous centripetal accelerations, the centrifuge must be carefully balanced, with each sample matched by a sample of identical mass on the opposite side. Any difference in the masses of opposing samples creates a net force on the shaft of the rotor, potentially leading to a catastrophic failure of the apparatus. Suppose a scientist makes a slight error in sample preparation and one sample has a mass 10 mg larger than the opposing sample.   If the samples are 12 cm from the axis of the rotor and the ultracentrifuge spins at 60000 rpm, what is the magnitude of the net force on the rotor due to the unbalanced samples?

The ultracentrifuge is an important tool for separating and analyzing proteins. Because of the enormous centripetal accelerations, the centrifuge must be carefully balanced, with each sample matched by a sample of identical mass on the opposite side. Any difference in the masses of opposing samples creates a net force on the shaft of the rotor, potentially leading to a catastrophic failure of the apparatus. Suppose a scientist makes a slight error in sample preparation and one sample has a mass \( 10 \) \( \text{mg} \) larger than the opposing sample.

 

If the samples are \( 12 \) \( \text{cm} \) from the axis of the rotor and the ultracentrifuge spins at \( 60000 \) \( \text{rpm} \), what is the magnitude of the net force on the rotor due to the unbalanced samples?

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/19964/*