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What is Svedberg unit?

Oct 14, 2024

What is Svedberg unit?

Answer

The Svedberg unit (S) is a measure of the sedimentation rate of particles in a centrifuge, reflecting their size, shape, and density.

Solution

Definition: The Svedberg unit (S) is a non-SI unit used to describe the rate at which a particle sediments in a centrifugal field. It is defined as 10^-13 seconds

Application: It is commonly used in biochemistry to characterize ribosomes, viruses, and other macromolecules based on their sedimentation behavior during centrifugation

Formula: The sedimentation coefficient (S) can be calculated using the formula:

S = \frac{v}{\omega^2 r}

, where

v

is the sedimentation velocity,

\omega

is the angular velocity, and

r

is the radial distance from the axis of rotation

Key Concept

Svedberg unit measures sedimentation rate in centrifugation

Explanation

It quantifies how quickly particles settle in a centrifugal field, important for understanding macromolecular behavior.