Centrifuge Calculator: RCF, RPM, and Rotor Radius

Your details

Choose which quantity you want to calculate. The other two become inputs.
Select a common rotor to auto-fill the radius, or choose Custom to enter your own.
Measure from the centre of the rotor axle to the bottom of the sample tube (the farthest point). Check your rotor manual for the exact value.
cm
Revolutions per minute as displayed on the centrifuge panel.
RPM
RCF (g-force)High speed
6,037x g

Centrifugal force as a multiple of Earth gravity

RPM10,000RPM
Rotor radius5.4cm
Angular velocity1,047.2rad/s
Centrifugal acceleration59,217.6m/s²
Tip speed56.55m/s
6,037 x g
Low speed<1000High speed1000-20000Very high speed20000-100000Ultracentrifuge100000+

6037 x g at 10000 RPM with a 5.4 cm rotor

  • At 6037 x g, this speed is typical for mitochondria isolation, nuclear fractionation, or crude membrane pellets (1 000-40 000 x g).
  • With a 5.4 cm radius rotor spinning at 10000 RPM, the sample tip moves at 56.5 m/s and experiences 59218 m/s² of centrifugal acceleration.
  • Always verify your actual rotor radius from the manufacturer spec sheet: using an incorrect radius is the most common source of error when converting between RCF and RPM.

Next stepCheck the application reference table below for the recommended g-force range for your sample type, then confirm your rotor radius matches the listed value.

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