2.12.

Centrifugal force

2.12.1. Experiment description

The main piece of the experimental device has is a transparent rectangular tank, more highly than
long and wide. At the top, which is open, it has mounted on the ends some cards of the same
material designed to prevent liquid overflow.

The experimental stand is mounted on two pulleys over which it is passed a belt. The larger
pulley is attached to a crank and one has stiffened her transparent tank. The latter one has to
have the exact center on the pulley’s axis of rotation (not to "beat" during rotation). The tank
contains a few milliliters of colorful fluid in it (so as to form a column of few centimeters height
of liquid) , not to exist the risk to throw over the edge during performance test the liquid.

2.12.2. Use

With the crank, put on rotation, increasing moderately the velocity, the vessel containing colored
liquid, taking care not to be thrown over the edge.

2.12.3. Intended effect

Note that the free surface of liquid, initially flat and horizontal, becomes concave, drawing on the
length of the vessel wall a parable.

2.12.4. Explanation

The liquid’s free surface is flat and horizontal, in standby, because on each particle acts
vertically downward the gravity force, balanced by intermolecular forces. When the vessel with
liquid is rotating, each fluid particle describes a circular motion around the axis of rotation of the
 2
F cf = m⋅v
⃗
vessel. Therefore, in addition to weight acts and the centrifugal force r , where m is
particle mass, v is its linear velocity and r the distance to the axis (radius).

Fig. 2.12 – Centrifugal force - Explanatory sketch

This tends to depart it from the rotation axis. As a result, the liquid has to move toward the
edges of the dish, and its steady stage is achieved when the new free surface of the liquid is
perpendicular, in each point, on the resultant between centrifugal and weight forces. In the new
situation of dynamic equilibrium, the liquid’s free surface takes the shape of a rotation
paraboloid, the intersection of the planar vertical walls of the vessel length, being parables, as
you can observe.

2.12.5. Application in teaching

The experiment shows in a direct way the centrifugal force effects and its manifestation mode.
Its study in the broader context of rotary motion is particularly important because of the
applications and its effects in everyday life: centrifugal clothing squeezer, centrifugal separator,
the force that you feel when the vehicle you move turns, etc.. Also, the experiment clearly
underlines its dependence of motion speed.