History Main / CentrifugalFarce

Note that this applies to [[TropesAreFlexible more than just training centrifuges]]. For example, 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.

** Done much the same in the film ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventuresHowISpentMyVacation'': Hampton's family (and Plucky) go to [[ThemePark Happy World Land]] and witness the "Happy-Go-Pukey" ride. When the spinning stops, the ride cars tip up on their ends and [[VomitIndiscretionShot out oozes a flood of vomit]].

Naturally, this has found a home in media, often exaggerated for comedic effect. Characters subjected to the centrifuge will appear to be traveling at LudicrousSpeed, complete with comically flapping lips, eyeballs bugged out, and squashed faces. In some cases, the hapless victims may even be SquashedFlat.

* Used in ''Series/BabylonFive'' to simulate gravity on the outer edge of the station. The transport cars were in the zero-g centerline. Sheridan had to jump from the tram between stops (ItMakesSenseInContext) and was in danger of hitting the "ground" with the same force as if he'd fallen off a building on Earth. [[spoiler:Kosh saved him but had to expose himself (no, not like that) to station personnel.]]

''"MY BRAINS ARE GOING INTO MY FEET"''
-->-- {{Spaceballs}}

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 extends their g-tolerance in both magnitude and duration. The method of training pilots to withstand these high g-loads is fairly simple:

Stick them in a really big centrifuge and spin them around really, really fast.

** Side note: This was a big part in inspiring the Octopuke scene in the penultimate chapter of "If You Can't Beat 'Em, Eat 'Em.". The author, MeowthRocket, was already considering a thrill ride scene, but this was the catalyst in making it happen. In his own words, "I want to show that Rainbow Dash, under the right circumstances, will blow her lunch from motion sickness like nearly EVERY OTHER CREATURE. The Dizzytron was pretty much BEGGING for me to make a version where SOMEPONY gets sick... It was like gift-wrapped, hoof-delivered, and signed "To ______". I'm already no stranger to Vomit indiscretion shots and the fact that the pieces were clicking together so easily made it easy to put together!"

* ''TinyToonAdventures'': Hampton's family go to Epcot and go on a centrifuge-like ride (this episode debuting years before Epcot even had such a ride); HilarityEnsues.

* Briefly shown in ''BarbieAndTheRockersOutOfThisWorld''. Barbie, whose MarySue-ness has been ramped UpToEleven (to the point where she is able to afford the bajillions needed to paint a space shuttle pink--Unlike ''[[BarbieLifeInTheDreamhouse Life in the Dreamhouse]]'', this is ''not'' a parody), is shown having used one, but showing perfect composure and ''with her [[EightiesHair massive perm]] still intact''.
* InspectorGadget gets the centrifuge treatment in "Launch Time".

* 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."

* In a rare example of being used for its intended purpose, the centrifuge appears in ''TheRightStuff'' as part of astronaut training.

* The centrifuge is used in the film ''SpiesLikeUs''. The heroes then go to lunch looking and sounding weird.

* ''MoscowCassiopeia '' had these.
* The infamous "Tequila" scene from ''TheSandlot'' involves a bunch of kids trying chewing tobacco to emulate their baseball idols, and then getting onto a fast spinning carnival ride. [[VomitChainReaction Vomit ensues.]]

* 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 go plowing through several corridors.

* Used in ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|Reimagined}}'' to simulate difficult targeting conditions for Viper pilots.

* 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.

* Used in ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|Reimagined}}'' to simulate difficult targeting conditions by Viper pilots.

* 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.

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

* Happens in a ''Comicbook/BuckDanny'' comic where the main characters take part in the X-15 flying program. [[CasanovaWanabee Sonny]] rather insistently asks the pretty doctor assessing them for a date, prompting said doctor to ask the centrifuge operator to crank up the test Sonny is about to be subjected to. Sonny spends the test yelling and collapses upon exiting the centrifuge.

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

Note that this applies to more than just training centrifuges. For example, 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.