Does a centrifuge weigh more when it's spinning?

In summary, centrifuges do not weigh more when they are spinning, as their mass and weight remain constant. Gyroscopes also do not lose mass when spinning, but they do resist tilting rather than gravity. The inventor of maglev, Laithwaite, had experiments that showed a reduced weight, but this could be explained by aerodynamics and would not have been observed in a vacuum. Laithwaite and Thomas Gold both had moments of brilliance, but also made mistakes in their thinking.
  • #1
confused85
1
0
This may or may not be a crazy question but do centrifuges weigh more when they're spinning? Perhaps I'm misunderstanding g-force, weight and centrifugal force.
 
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  • #2
its mass does not change, neither does its weight.

also, gyroscopes do not lose mass when they spin, contrary to what Laithwaite said. they don't resist gravity. they resist tilting.

and that guy invented maglev by the way.
 
  • #3
holtto said:
its mass does not change, neither does its weight.
Not strictly correct. When spun up there is greater total stress-energy-momentum = rest energy + rotational KE + other terms, and gravity acts on the sum of these. Will be a tiny addition, but is there.
also, gyroscopes do not lose mass when they spin, contrary to what Laithwaite said. they don't resist gravity. they resist tilting.
and that guy invented maglev by the way.
His experiments did show a reduced weight! However it can be explained aerodynamically, and if he had performed those experiments in a vacuum, nothing would have shown. Laithwaite had something in common with Thomas Gold. Both had strokes of genius thinking in certain directions, but goofed really badly in others.
 

Related to Does a centrifuge weigh more when it's spinning?

1. Does a centrifuge weigh more when it's spinning?

Yes, a centrifuge does weigh more when it's spinning. This is due to the centrifugal force, which is the outward force that acts on an object moving in a circular path. This force increases as the speed of the spinning object increases, thus causing an increase in weight.

2. How does the centrifuge's weight change when it's spinning?

The centrifuge's weight increases when it's spinning due to the centrifugal force acting on the object. This is similar to how you feel heavier when riding a merry-go-round or a rollercoaster as they spin faster.

3. Is there a limit to how much a centrifuge can weigh when it's spinning?

Yes, there is a limit to how much a centrifuge can weigh when it's spinning. This is due to the fact that the centrifugal force can only increase up to a certain point before it reaches equilibrium with the force of gravity. Once this point is reached, the weight of the centrifuge will not increase any further.

4. How does the weight of the sample inside the centrifuge affect its overall weight when spinning?

The weight of the sample inside the centrifuge does not directly affect its overall weight when spinning. However, the weight of the sample does contribute to the overall centrifugal force acting on the object, thus affecting its weight indirectly.

5. Does the weight of a centrifuge change if it's spinning at different speeds?

Yes, the weight of a centrifuge does change if it's spinning at different speeds. As mentioned before, the centrifugal force increases with the speed of the spinning object. Therefore, the weight of the centrifuge will also increase as the speed increases.

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