Which centrifuge is high-speed and capable of 100,000 rpm?

Which centrifuge is high-speed and capable of 100,000 rpm?

• A. Horizontal head centrifuge/swinging bucket
• B. Fixed/Angle-head centrifuge
• C. Ultra centrifuge
• D. Cytocentrifuge

Answer: (C)

Speed and intended use differentiate centrifuge types. Ultra centrifuges are built for ultracentrifugation and can reach very high speeds, around 100,000 rpm or more, which is needed to separate tiny subcellular components, macromolecules, or purified viruses and organelles. The other options operate at lower speeds and for different purposes: horizontal head (swinging-bucket) rotors are used for general separations while preserving samples at moderate speeds; fixed/angle-head centrifuges cover a broad range of spins but don’t reach ultracentrifuge speeds; cytocentrifuges are designed to deposit cells onto slides using moderate speeds suitable for cytology, not high-speed separations. Therefore, 100,000 rpm aligns with an ultracentrifuge.

Speed and intended use differentiate centrifuge types. Ultra centrifuges are built for ultracentrifugation and can reach very high speeds, around 100,000 rpm or more, which is needed to separate tiny subcellular components, macromolecules, or purified viruses and organelles. The other options operate at lower speeds and for different purposes: horizontal head (swinging-bucket) rotors are used for general separations while preserving samples at moderate speeds; fixed/angle-head centrifuges cover a broad range of spins but don’t reach ultracentrifuge speeds; cytocentrifuges are designed to deposit cells onto slides using moderate speeds suitable for cytology, not high-speed separations. Therefore, 100,000 rpm aligns with an ultracentrifuge.