Convert between centrifuge speed in RPM and relative centrifugal force.
RCF scales with the square of speed and linearly with radius, so the same RPM produces very different force in different rotors. Protocols should always specify RCF rather than RPM for that reason. Transferring an RPM figure between centrifuges with different rotor radii can change the applied force by a factor of two or more.
Centrifuge RPM/RCF
RCF = 1.118 × 10⁻⁵ × r(mm) × RPM²
RCF = 1.118 × 10⁻⁵ × r(mm) × RPM² RCF scales with the square of speed and linearly with radius, so the same RPM produces very different force in different rotors. Protocols should always specify RCF rather than RPM for that reason.
Transferring an RPM figure between centrifuges with different rotor radii can change the applied force by a factor of two or more.
This calculator takes 4 inputs: Rotor speed, Rotor radius, Target relative centrifugal force, Spin duration. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.