History Main / CentrifugalFarce

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' illustrated story ''Discworld/TheLastHero'', Leonard straps Rincewind into a ClockPunk centerfuge machine (the diagram of which [[ArtImitatesArt looks a lot like the Vitruvian Man) before their dragon-powered spaceflight, on the basis that the only way to train for the unexpected is with unexpected training. Before his experience in the centerfuge, Rincewind protests that they're heading for certain death, which you don't need ''any'' training for; afterwards he says that if you ''did'', that would be it.

In order for astronauts and fighter pilots to withstand the large amount of G-forces incurred upon takeoff, high-G training is a critical part of the preparation for any launch. This is to prevent g-induced loss of consciousness caused by the forced movement of blood from the brain to the lower extremities. Research done since the 1970s has shown that training to resist g-induced loss of consciousness significantly extends the pilot's resistance to blackouts and and extends their g-tolerance in both magnitude and duration. The method of training pilots to withstand these high g-loads is fairly simple:

* The movie ''{{Rocketman}}'' (about a manned mission to Mars) has one. When the IdiotHero is riding it, he is so unaffected by the forces that the supervisors keep raising the speed, causing the seat to detach itself and goes plowing through several corridors.

* ''Film/{{Moonraker}}''. While on a tour of Drax' aerospace facility JamesBond was put in such a machine by Holly Goodhead and given a spin. While he was undergoing this, Holly was called away and Drax's henchman Chang took over, turning the dial up and subjecting Bond to multiple gravities of force. Just before falling unconscious, Bond used one of his gadgets to shoot the control panel and turn the machine off.

* Not related to training, but on ''TheIronGiant'', Hogarth and the Giant are playing test pilot with an old car. The Giant spins the car a little faster than Hogarth imagined.

In addition to training centrifuges, carnival rides provide another common source of hilarity. Normally harmless amusement rides become whirling machines of doom and vomit in the hands of overzealous writers. After being subjected to the insanity, characters will often stumble off in a daze, followed up by a NonSequiturThud.

[[quoteright:320:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/centrigual_923.png]]

[[quoteright:320:[[VideoGame/KerbalSpaceProgram http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kerbal_centrifuge_training_by_timmon26-d5g7dkr_5138.gif]]]]

* Webcomic/{{xkcd}} argues whether or not this should be [[http://xkcd.com/123/ "centripetal force"]].

[[quoteright:320:[[VideoGame/KerbalSpaceProgram http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kerbalcentrifuge_4.png]]]]

* The movie ''{{Rocketman}}'' (about a manned mission to Mars) has one. When the IdiotHero is riding it, he somehow causes the seat to detach itself and goes plowing through several corridors.

* ''KerbalSpaceProgram'' supplies both the page image (via FanArt) and now, in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlbHmsHOe-U the official trailer for release .21]], an animated CGI version.

In order for astronauts and fighter pilots to withstand the large amount of G-forces incurred upon takeoff, high-G training is a critical part of the preparation for any launch. This is to prevent g-induced loss of consciousness caused by the forced movement of blood from the brain to the lower extremities. Research done since the 1970s has shown that training to resist g-induced loss of consciousness significantly extends the pilot's resistance to blackouts and and extends their g-tolerance in both magnitude and duration. The method of training pilots to withstand these high g-loads is fairly simple.

* ''KerbalSpaceProgram'' supplies both the page image (via fan art) and now, in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlbHmsHOe-U the official trailer for release .21]], an animated CGI version.

* ''Film/{{Moonraker}}''. While on a tour of Drax' aerospace facility JamesBond was put in such a machine by Holly Goodhead and given a spin. While he was undergoing this Holly was called away and Drax's henchman Chang took over, turning the dial up and subjecting Bond to multiple gravities of force. Just before falling unconscious, Bond used one of his gadgets to shoot the control panel and turn the machine off.

* ''KerbalSpaceProgram'' supplies both the page image (via fan art) and now, in [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlbHmsHOe-U the trailer for release .21], an official animated version.

* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': Princess Bubblegum puts a cow into a centrifuge to make the perfect block of cheese.

* The [[DisneyThemeParks ''Disneyland'']] show episode "Man in Space", which was made in 1955, had a section on how astronauts would be trained, including being put on a centerfuge. Seeing how far the show predates the actual space program, it's remarkable how far ahead the scientists involved (who were consultants on the episode) were preparing.

* In ''VideoGame/SamAndMaxHitTheRoad'', the Cone Of Tragedy at the Cushman Bros. Carnival spins around at insane speeds, as befitting its name. If you ride it, you will lose all your stuff.

In order for astronauts and fighter pilots to withstand the large amount of G-forces incurred upon takeoff, high-G training is a critical part of the preparation for any launch. This is to prevent g-induced loss of consciousness caused by the forced movement of blood from the brain to the lower extremities. Research done since the 1970's has shown that training to resist g-induced loss of consciousness significantly extends the pilot's resistance to blackouts and and extends their g-tolerance in both magnitude and duration. The method of training pilots to withstand these high g-loads is fairly simple.

[[quoteright:320:[[KerbalSpaceProgram http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kerbalcentrifuge_4.png]]]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Homer & Barney each get put in one of these when they're being trained as asutronauts. Homer in particular briefly turns into Popeye due to the G's.

* The ''Disneyland'' show episode "Man in Space", which was made in 1955, had a section on how astronauts would be trained, including being put on a centerfuge. Seeing how far the show predates the actual space program, it's remarkable how far ahead the scientists involved (who were consultants on the episode) were preparing.
* ''TheSimpsons'': Homer & Barney each get put in one of these when they're being trained as asutronauts. Homer in particular briefly turns into Popeye due to the G's.

* ''{{Moonraker}}''. While on a tour of Drax' aerospace facility JamesBond was put in such a machine by Holly Goodhead and given a spin. While he was undergoing this Holly was called away and Drax's henchman Chang took over, turning the dial up and subjecting Bond to multiple gravities of force. Just before falling unconscious, Bond used one of his gadgets to shoot the control panel and turn the machine off.

* ''AdventureTime'': Princess Bubblegum puts a cow into a centrifuge to make the perfect block of cheese.

* ''MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': In the episode ''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E7WonderboltsAcademy Wonderbolts Academy]]'', the Dizzytron is an obvious parody of this trope. It's also an unusual usage, as it's designed to launch pegasi into the air after it's done spinning--the pegasi are then timed on how quickly they can recover and land safely.

Subtrope of WhenThingsSpinScienceHappens. See also EverythingsBetterWithSpinning.

* Happen to Chip and Dale in ''WesternAnimation/ChipNDaleRescueRangers'' with Gadget and Jack at the controls. They are SquashedFlat when the centrifuge finaly stops.

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When I feel like it, I might add the Steampunk example in Terry Pratchett's ''{{Discworld}}'' novel ''The Last Hero''. There's even a picture...

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Actually the Vomit Comet refers to something else: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reduced_gravity_aircraft#Usage_by_NASA an airplane that astronauts ride in, which makes steep dives in order to simulate microgravity for a period of a few seconds]]. The machine you're referring to is called an [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerotrim "Aerotrim."]]

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Used in ''BattlestarGalactica'' to simulate difficult targeting conditions by Viper pilots.

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{{Tropers/nitrokitty}}/OP: This is why it's critically important to write the description before submitting a YKTTW proposal.

Is this trope about:
* (a) The plane that simulates zero gravity for its passengers while descending (the RealLife "Vomit Comet")
* (b) The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerotrim Aerotrim]] device
* (c) The large machine that spins in circles and simulates high gravity for its passengers

If the answer is (c) I have a film example.

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* ''{{Moonraker}}''. While on a tour of Drax' aerospace facility JamesBond was put in such a machine by Holly Goodhead and given a spin. While he was undergoing this Holly was called away and Drax's henchman Chang took over, turning the dial up and subjecting Bond to multiple gravities of force. Just before falling unconscious, Bond used one of his gadgets to shoot the control panel and turn the machine off.

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I have an example of (a) In TwinSpica part of the astronaut training program is to go up in the 'vomit comet' Hilarity and vomiting ensues.

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Is late and will finish YKTTW in the morning, but was thinking of this: [[http://astrowright.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/nastarsm.jpg]]

Was rereading TheRightStuff and the centrifuge was also referred to as the vomit comet.

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I think the centrifuge one is used in the Film SpiesLikeUs . The heroes then go to lunch looking and sounding weird, I think.

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Just a technical note, don't try to embed image URLs in a YKTTW post - it breaks formatting. Enclose it in double brackets so that it's piped.

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^^ Yes, ''SpiesLikeUs'' had a centrifuge scene. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXkI_AGXIZE#t=1m30s Here it is]], subtitled in Spanish.

I would change the name to something involving "centrifuge" and "gravity", so that it doesn't cause confusion with the airplane "Vomit Comet".

HighGravityCentrifuge? CentrifugeGravityTest? Something like that.

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''TheSimpsons'': Homer & Barney each get put in one of these when they're being trained as asutronauts. Homer in particular brefly turns into Popeye due to the G's.

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Definitely needs a different name. The Vomit Comet is [[Film/{{Airplane}} an entirely different way of flying, altogether.]]

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

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[[ItMakesSenseInContext BenMummy and a Werewolf-esque alien fight]] next to one of these in an episode of {{WesternAnimation/Ben10}}

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MoscowCassiopeia had these.

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* Not related to training, but on ''TheIronGiant'', Hogarth and the Giant are playing test pilot with an old car. The Giant spins the car a little faster than Hogarth imagined.
* The ''Disneyland'' show episode "Man in Space", which was made in 1955, had a section on how astronauts would be trained, including being put on a centerfuge. Seeing how far the show predates the actual space program, it's remarkable how far ahead the scientists involved (who were consultants on the episode) were preparing.

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* An A-1 Steak Sauce commercial depicted a man using one of these centrifuges to get the absolute last drop of sauce out of the bottle. "[[CatchPhrase Yeah, it's that important.]]"

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YKTTWBump

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* In the ''Moonbeam'' series of picture books about a chimp at NASA, there is a scene where Moonbeam is put in one these machines, and spends the next few pages stumbling around bumping into things.

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Any more suggestions?

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YKTTWBump for hats. I'd also be grateful if someone could come up with a good page image, the sillier the better. My search turned up nothing good so I'm turning to the YKTTW community for help.

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The movie Rocketman (about a manned mission to Mars) has one. When the IdiotHero is riding it, he somehow causes the seat to detach itself and goes plowing through several corridors.

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WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain were put into one in the episode "Where No Mouse Has Gone Before".

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I'll sort them into folders after I get home from work tonight.

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{{PLATTER}}er speaking, and this name is HILARIOUS and just NEEDS to stay.

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The trope tags are before I changed the name, and I'm too dumb to figure out how to remove them.

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Only a moderator can remove tags.

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I think this page is about as done as I can get it, and I'm about to launch it, hats or no hats. This things been kicking around YKTTW long enough. I'll leave it up for a couple more days if anyone wants to voice any objections or add more examples, but otherwise I'm set to go.

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Webcomic/{{xkcd}} [[http://xkcd.com/123/ argues whether or not this should be "centripetal force"]].

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Western Animation:
* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'' had an amusement park ride called the Hurl-a-Whirl that did pretty much ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: basically a dumbbell-type centrifuge, except the car itself spun perpendicular to the arm as well. The individual cars actually had a dial to increase the ride speed, with the highest setting being "Liquefy".

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* An episode of ''{{Rugrats}}'' showed Angelica getting on something like this at a carnival. It turns out to be a very high speed one, and when Stu tries to get the operator to shut it off, he misunderstands and turns it UpToEleven. When Angelica gets off, and Didi asks if she's alright, she responds, "I think so, Uncle Stu."

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* Happen to Chip and Dale in WesternAnimation/ChipNDaleRescueRangers with Gadget and Jack at the controls. They are SquashedFlat when the centrifuge finaly stops.

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