Centrifuge

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Digital centrifuge used in medical laboratory

A centrifuge is a device with a motor in it, which is used to spin an object with high speed. This high speed spinning forces the object outwards. This force is used for several purposes:

  • a uranium centrifuge is used to separate two isotopes of uranium (named U-235 and U-238) from each other;[1]
  • in medical laboratories, serum is separated from the blood samples using a centrifuge;
  • in chemical laboratories, centrifuges are used to subtract solid parts of an emulsion from its liquid parts.
  • large centrifuges are used by NASA to expose astronauts to high forces for their training.[2]

References[change | change source]

  1. "What's a uranium centrifuge?". HowStuffWorks. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  2. "What is a Centrifuge?". Retrieved 2007-07-24.