How does a washing machine's 'spin cycle' expel water from clothes?
centripetal acceleration:
To stay at the same radius, a water particle of mass m must have a force on it inward of m v^2/r. Until it hits the walls of the container, that force is missing. If the water particle happens to hit upon a hole in the wall or dribbles down the wall, it goes through, is collected, and pumped away. Ever noticed how the clothes are bunched up and pressed against the wall when you open the machine after the spin cycle?
A washing machine's "spin cycle" expels water from clothes through centrifugal force. The spinning drum of the washing machine rotates rapidly during the spin cycle, creating a centrifugal force that pushes the water out of the wet clothes and towards the walls of the drum.
To understand how this works, let me explain the basic mechanics of a washing machine's spin cycle:
1. Drainage: Before entering the spin cycle, the washing machine first drains the dirty water from the tub. This ensures that the water being expelled during the spin cycle is clean.
2. High-speed spinning: Once the water is drained, the drum of the washing machine spins at a high speed. The spin speed depends on the selected program or setting.
3. Centrifugal force: As the drum spins, it creates a centrifugal force that is directed towards the outer walls of the drum. This force pushes the water outwards, away from the clothes.
4. Drainage holes: Most washing machines have small drainage holes in the drum's walls. The water forced out by the centrifugal force is directed towards these holes.
5. Drainage pump: The water that passes through the drainage holes is then expelled from the washing machine through a drainage pump. The pump removes the water and sends it out through a drain pipe, usually connected to the plumbing system.
By combining the high-speed spinning of the drum with the centrifugal force, the water is effectively separated from the clothes, allowing for efficient drying. It's important to note that the effectiveness of the spin cycle depends on factors such as the load size, distribution of clothes in the drum, and the spin speed selected for the wash cycle.