Centrifuge RCF Calculator
Enter your centrifuge rotor radius and RPM to calculate the Relative Centrifugal Force (RCF), expressed as a multiple of Earth’s gravity.
What is RCF?
Relative Centrifugal Force (RCF), also called g-force, describes how much force a centrifuge applies to a sample compared to Earth’s gravity. Lab protocols usually specify a target RCF rather than an RPM, since the same RPM produces different forces on rotors of different sizes.
The formula
RCF = 1.118 × 10-5 × r × RPM2, where r is the rotor radius in centimeters (measured from the center of the spindle to the bottom of the sample tube). This is the standard formula used across laboratory and clinical settings.
Always confirm the exact radius used by your specific rotor, since manufacturers sometimes specify radius differently (min/max/average). This calculator is for general reference and educational purposes.