Centrifugal Force Calculations of Rotating Gears

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When a body or gear rotates about any axis other than one at its center of mass, it exerts an outward radial force called centrifugal force upon the axis or any arm or cord from the axis that restrains it from moving in a straight (tangential) line. In the following formulas:

	or
	or

Where:

F = Centrifugal Force (Lbs)
W = Weight of body revolving (lbs)
v = Velocity at the radius R (ft/sec)
n = Revolutions per minute (rpm)
g = Acceleration due to gravity = 32.174 ft/sec²
R = Distance (perpendicular) in feet from axis of rotation to center of mass