| centrifugal | 1. Denoting the direction of the force pulling an object outward (away) from an axis of rotation. 2. Sometimes, by analogy, extended to describe any movement away from a centre. Compare: eccentric. Origin: L. Centrum, centre, + fugio, to flee (05 Mar 2000) |
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| centrifugal casting | Casting molten metal into a mold by spinning the metal from a crucible at the end of a revolving arm. (05 Mar 2000) |
| centrifugal current | The direction of current flow in a nerve when the cathode is placed peripheral to the anode, in contrast to ascending current. Synonym: centrifugal current. (05 Mar 2000) |
| centrifugal fast analyzer | An automatic spectrophotometer that uses centrifugal force to mix samples and reagents, and propels the reactants at high speed about a detector that makes multiple absorbance readings. (05 Mar 2000) |
| centrifugal force | <physics> The apparent force which seems to pull an object outward when the object is spun around in a circle. In reality, it is the centripetal force which keeps the object rotating around in the circle when the object's inertia makes the object inclined to move in a straight tangential line away from the circle. The centrifugal force does not really exist and, in a strictly physical sense, the term is a misnomer. However, the term is useful to biologists and chemists who are using centrifuges. (13 Nov 1997) |
| centrifugal nerve | <anatomy, nerve> A nerve which transmits impulses from the brain and spinal cord to a muscle or organ. (27 Sep 1997) |
| centrifugalise | A laboratory apparatus that separates mixed samples into homogenouscomponent layers by spinning them at high speed. (09 Oct 1997) |
| centrifugalization | <procedure> The process of separating fractions of systems in a centrifuge. The most basic separation is to sediment a pellet at the bottom of the tube, leaving a supernatant at a given centrifugal force. In this case sedimentation is determined by size and density of the particles in the system amongst other factors. Density may be used as a basis for sedimentation in density gradient centrifugation. at very high g values molecules may be separated, i.e. Ultracentrifugation. In continuous centrifugation the supernatant is removed continuously as it is formed. (13 Nov 1997) |