Calculate the imbalance force when an object rotates about an axis with an offset center of mass
Learn how to use the Imbalance Force Calculator and understand its applications
Imbalance force occurs when a rotating object has its center of mass offset from the axis of rotation. This creates a cyclic force that vibrates the entire system at the rotational frequency.
The formula used is F = m × e × ω², where:
- F is the imbalance force
- m is the mass of the object
- e is the eccentricity (distance from rotation axis to center of mass)
- ω is the angular velocity
This calculator is useful in various engineering applications including:
For a 5 kg flywheel with a radius of 0.3 m rotating at 3000 RPM (which is 31.416 rad/s), and with an eccentricity of 0.001 m, the imbalance force would be: F = 5 kg × 0.001 m × (31.416 rad/s)² = 0.497 N