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Derivation of Stoke

This document discusses centrifugation and Stokes' law. [1] Centrifugation uses centrifugal force to more rapidly separate particles than gravitational sedimentation alone by increasing the effective gravitational force. [2] The rate of sedimentation depends on particle size, density difference between particle and medium, medium viscosity, and gravitational force according to Stokes' law. [3] Centrifuges are classified by their maximum relative centrifugal force (RCF), which depends on rotor speed and radius.

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Junaid Bangash
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285 views

Derivation of Stoke

This document discusses centrifugation and Stokes' law. [1] Centrifugation uses centrifugal force to more rapidly separate particles than gravitational sedimentation alone by increasing the effective gravitational force. [2] The rate of sedimentation depends on particle size, density difference between particle and medium, medium viscosity, and gravitational force according to Stokes' law. [3] Centrifuges are classified by their maximum relative centrifugal force (RCF), which depends on rotor speed and radius.

Uploaded by

Junaid Bangash
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© © All Rights Reserved
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DERIVATION OF STOKE'S LAW

A spherical grain settling through a fluid at low Reynolds numbers is acted upon
by a downward-directed force of gravity (FG), an upward-directed force of
bouyancy (FB), and an upward-directed force of fluid drag (FD), which tends to
retard the downward settling of the grain. As a grain begins to settle, the force of
gravity exceeds the combined forces of bouyancy and drag and the particle
accelerates. As the particle accelerates downward, the force of drag increases to the
point that the force of gravity exactly equals the combined forces of bouyancy and
drag. At this point, the grain is in force balance and will continue to settle at a
constant velocity, essentially equal to the velocity it held just prior to the balancing
of forces.

The force of gravity is equal to the volume of a sphere multiplied by its grain
density multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity (see left side of equation
below). The force of bouyancy is similar, except that the density of the fluid
replaces the density of the grain (see left-hand term in equation below). The force
of drag on a spherical grain will not be derived here, but can be found in any fluid
mechanics text and is shown in the second term below. In this equation, d is grain
diameter, ρf is the density of the fluid, ρg is the density of the settling grain, CD is
the dimensionless coefficent of drag, V is the velocity of the settling grain, and g is
the acceleration due to gravity.

By moving the force of bouyancy to the right side of the equation and cancelling
terms, one obtains the following.

Solving for V, the velocity of the settling grain, the equation becomes the
following.
The coefficient of drag appropriate for a smooth, spherical grain settling under
slow laminar flow, low particle concentrations, and low grain Reynolds numbers is
the following, where μ is the viscosity of the fluid,

and grain Reynolds number (Reg) is

which makes the coefficient of drag under these conditions equal to the following.

Inserting the coefficient of drag into the fourth equation above (solved in terms of
V2), leads to the following statement of Stoke's Law.

Return to Particle Transport and Deposition


Centrifugation Basics

By: Mark Frei, BioFiles v6 n5, 4–5

BioFiles Volume 6, Number 5 — Centrifugation

Download BioFiles v6 n5 (4.66 Mb PDF)


The earth's gravitational force is sufficient to separate many types of particles over
time. A tube of anticoagulated whole blood left standing on a bench top will
eventually separate into plasma, red blood cell and white blood cell fractions.
However, the length of time required precludes this manner of separation for most
applications. In practice, centrifugal force is necessary to separate most particles.
In addition, the potential degradation of biological compounds during prolonged
storage means faster separation techniques are needed.
The rate of separation in a suspension of particles by way of gravitational force
mainly depends on the particle size and density. Particles of higher density or
larger size typically travel at a faster rate and at some point will be separated from
particles less dense or smaller. This sedimentation of particles, including cells, can
be explained by the Stokes equation, which describes the movement of a sphere in
a gravitational field.1 The equation calculates the velocity of sedimentation
utilizing five parameters (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. The Stokes equation.


From the Stokes equation five important behaviors of particles can be explained:

1. The rate of particle sedimentation is proportional to the particle size.


2. The sedimentation rate is proportional to the difference in density between
the particle and the medium.
3. The sedimentation rate is zero when the particle density is the same as the
medium density.
4. The sedimentation rate decreases as the medium viscosity increases.
5. The sedimentation rate increases as the gravitational force increases.
Most particles are so small that gravitational force is insufficient to overcome the
random molecular forces of particles to influence separation. Centrifugation, the
name given to separation applications which involve spinning around an axis to
produce a centrifugal force, is a way to increase the magnitude of the gravitational
field. The particles in suspension experience a radial centrifugal force moving
them away from the axis of rotation.2 The radial force generated by the spinning
rotor is expressed relative to the earth's gravitational force and therefore is known
as the relative centrifugal force (RCF) or the "g force." The g force acting on
particles is exponential to the speed of rotation (defined as revolutions per minute;
rpm). Doubling the speed of rotation increases the centrifugal force by a factor of
four. The centrifugal force also increases with the distance from the axis of
rotation. These two parameters are of considerable significance when selecting the
appropriate centrifuge. Table 1 summarizes the applications that can be classified
by the relative centrifugal force.3
Table 1. Classes of centrifuges and their applications.
Low High
Parameters Ultracentrifuge
speed speed
Speed ranges (r.p.m. x 18–
2–6 35–120
103) 22
Maximum RCF (x 103) 8 60 700
Pelleting Applications
Bacteria — Yes Yes*
Animal and plant
Yes Yes Yes*
cells
Nuclei Yes Yes Yes*
Precipitates Some Most Yes*
Membrane organelles Some Yes Yes
Membrane fractions Some Some Yes
Ribosomes/polysomes — — Yes
Macromolecules — — Yes
Viruses — Most Yes
* Can be done but not usually used for this purpose.
RCF is dependent on the speed of rotation in rpm and the distance of the particles
from the center of rotation. When the speed of rotation is given in rpm (Q) and the
distance (r) is expressed in centimeters, RCF can be calculated by using the
formula in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Formula for relative centrifugal force (RCF).


A nomogram can also be used to obtain the speed of a centrifuge rotor necessary
for a desired RCF (see Figure 3). This quick estimate is useful for low speed
centrifugation applications. However, it is more accurate to use the RCF
calculation for speeds in excess of 10,000 rpm.

Figure 3. Nomogram for estimation of centrifuge rpm setting.

Nomogram instructions

1. Measure the radius (cm) from the center of the centrifuge rotor to the end of
test
tube carrier.
2. Obtain the relative centrifugal force necessary for the application.
3. A straight line connecting the value of the radius with the relative centrifugal
force (g) value will enable the speed of the rotor (rpm) to be read off of the
right column.

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