This post talks about the centripetal Force and Washing machine. How centripetal force helps a washing machine to operate and wash clothes – this is what we will discuss here.

Washing machine circular motion | Centripetal Force and Washing machine

Let’s see how concepts of centripetal force have been intelligently implemented in a common household machine. Yes, I am talking about Washing Machine.

How centripetal force helps Washing machine operation

Concepts of centripetal force are behind washing machine functionality. As clothes are put inside the drum and drum is filled with water, circular motion sets into the drum.

The circular motion of the drum transmits similar motion to the clothes as well. But as the clothes are not physically attached to the center of the drum, they don’t get any centripetal force to continue the circular motion uniformly.

As a result, they tend to move in a straight line tangent to the circular path. But they face the drum body on their way, hit it forcefully, and revert back. Rotating drum again injects circular motion to the clothes and this cycle continues.

But this doesn’t happen to the water droplets in the clothes. As the clothes hit the drum body, as described above, the water droplets make their way to the outside of the drum, through the holes on the drum body. And the clothes get rid of the water by the time the washing cycle completes.

Is there any contribution of centrifugal force in the washing machine operation?

No. As said above centrifugal force is a pseudo force. It does not have any contribution to the Washing machine. The centripetal force concept is behind washing machine operation.

Related topics

Definition of centripetal force



Centripetal Force formula: see here



Centripetal Force and Centrifugal Reaction, explanation with Newton’s 3rd Law



Centripetal Force Vs Centrifugal force – Read here



centrifugal force is a pseudo force – why?

I hope you enjoyed. We will discuss more in this line ! Pls see the ‘Study Suggestions‘ and the VIDEO below!

Related Study Suggestion:

1) Critical Velocity in Circular motion in vertical plane

2) Circular Motion and its relationships with linear motion

an Outstanding Video for you

Centripetal Force and Washing machine – How centripetal force helps Washing machine operation