History Main / CentrifugalFarce

Subtrope of SpectacularSpinning. See also WhenThingsSpinScienceHappens.

* There's an unusually graphic VomitIndiscretionShot in the ''ComicBook/DoctorWhoTitan'' story "Ghost Stories", when the Twelfth Doctor incapacitates some armed robbers by spinning them in a revolving door.

* In ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'', Goku grabs Freeza by the tail and spins him around repeatedly, causing Freeza to vomit. [[VomitDiscretionShot We never actually see the sick,]] but there is a [[ShadowOfImpendingDoom conspicuous shot of a growing shadow]] over [[ButtMonkey Krillin's]] face...

* ''Film/{{Moonraker}}''. While on a tour of Drax' aerospace facility, Film/JamesBond is put in such a machine by Holly Goodhead and given a spin. While he is undergoing this, Holly is called away and Drax's henchman Chang takes over, turning the dial up and subjecting Bond to multiple gravities of force. Just before falling unconscious, Bond uses one of his gadgets to shoot the control panel and turn the machine off. When Goodhead shows up to get him out of the machine, [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness the normally unflappable Bond is so rattled that]] ''[[OOCIsSeriousBusiness he can't even come up with a witty quip]].''

* Used to comedic effect for the same type of training in ''Film/SpaceCowboys''
* The centrifuge is used in the film ''Film/SpiesLikeUs''. The heroes then go to lunch looking and sounding weird.
* The movie ''Film/RocketMan1997'' (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.
* ''Film/MoscowCassiopeia '' had these.

* In ''Film/GodzillaVsMechagodzillaII'', Kazama Aoki is put in a similar device while training to pilot Mechagodzilla. The chair spins in place instead of around an object.
* One of the more light-hearted moments in ''Film/FirstMan'' is Neil Armstrong's first experience with the three-axis centrifuge, especially when a clearly addled Armstrong goes to his next training class only to get a massive {{Doorstopper}} of a textbook (figuratively) thrown at him. However, the scene is also an opportunity for him to show how cool he is under pressure (and a foreshadowing of his much more serious encounter with centrifugal gee-forces on his Gemini 8 mission).

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' illustrated story ''Literature/TheLastHero'', Leonard straps Rincewind into a ClockPunk centrifuge 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 centrifuge, 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.
* Averted in ''Literature/SpaceCadet'' where zero-G training is done via a gravity-drop tower built against a 2000-foot high cliff. On reaching the bottom, you're accelerated up to the top and start over at a faster drop rate.
* In the ''Literature/HankTheCowdog'' book ''The Case of the Vanishing Fishhook'', Hank has swallowed a fishhook that was baited with liver. Slim tries to get him to throw it up by {{force feeding}} him a ton of liquid soap and then spinning him in circles. Ironically, it doesn't work for Hank, but [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Slim has to duck out for a moment to vomit]].

* Used in ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}'' to simulate difficult targeting conditions for Viper pilots.
* Becomes a minor plot point in the ''Series/{{Chuck}}'' episode, "Chuck vs. the Gravitron." Chuck is fleeing from a Fulcrum agent, and ducks inside the Gravitron ride at a carnival. The device gets activated, and Chuck and the villain end up flattened against the walls as it spins up. This leads to a scene of them ''crawling along the walls'' as Chuck continues his attempt to escape. When the device stops Chuck and the villain get flung into each other, and the villain is incapacitated.

* An episode of ''Series/HomeImprovement'' attempts to do this but fails spectacularly. Tim is undergoing astronaut training after a Binford tool is selected to go on the shuttle and they get to send a Binford employee along to use it. During the training Tim is put in a "G-force chair" which is where the attempt falls flat on its proverbial face. The chair is not a proper centrifuge but is merely a fancy chair that spins like any normal office chair. He wouldn't have experienced any G's, just gotten vary dizzy. Never the less he still ends up with a cartoonishly distorted face curtesy of a basic smug tool.
* ''Series/RoadRules'' season 5 last episode ("Ice Castles"). The Road Rulers receive a clue about what their next challenge will be: a motion sickness bag. They are required to ride 30 amusement park rides in two hours, including roller coasters, with the intent that they will end up getting sick on camera. It works - several of them end up puking their guts out.

[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
* In the film ''Film/MuppetsFromSpace'', Rizzo spins in the centrifuge in C.O.V.N.E.T. while enduring science experiments.
[[/folder]]

* In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' you can do this to Snake at will by spinning him around in the Survival Viewer. If Snake's sick from eating rotten or poisoned food, you can cure him by forcing him to vomit. You can also escape from the prison cell by making Snake vomit, then taking out the guard when he comes in to check on you.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': In "Five Short Graybles", Princess Bubblegum puts a cow into a centrifuge to make a block of cheese for "the perfect sandwich".

* The ''[[Ride/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.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Homer and Barney each get put in one of these when they're being trained as astronauts. Homer in particular briefly turns into Franchise/{{Popeye}} due to the G's.
* ''WesternAnimation/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. Presumably anyone who ''doesn't'' recover quickly enough washes out.
* ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain'' were put into one in the episode "Where No Mouse Has Gone Before".
* 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".
* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{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 makes it faster. When Angelica gets off, and Didi asks if she's alright, she responds, "I think so, Uncle Stu."
* Happen to Chip and Dale in ''WesternAnimation/ChipNDaleRescueRangers'' with Gadget and Jack at the controls. They are SquashedFlat when the centrifuge finally stops.
* ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'': In ''[[WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventuresHowISpentMyVacation How I Spent My Vacation]]'', Hampton's family (and Plucky) go to [[ThemeParks Happy World Land]] and witness the "Happy Centrifuge" ride. When the spinning stops, the ride car tips up on its end and [[HarmlessLiquefaction out oozes the melted passengers]].
* Briefly shown in ''WesternAnimation/BarbieAndTheRockersOutOfThisWorld''. Barbie, whose OP characterization has been ramped up (to the point where she is able to afford the bajillions needed to paint a space shuttle pink--Unlike ''[[WebAnimation/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''.

* ''WesternAnimation/AGentlemensDuel''. The Englishman grabs the arm of his French opponent's SteamPunk mecha and starts swinging him around before tossing him into a BigFancyHouse, and we get a momentary shot of the pilot with obligatory FlappingCheeks.
* T-Bone and Razor are seen training in a dual centrifuge in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/SwatKats'', justified because they're vigilantes that fly an insanely fast CoolPlane and would need to train for the high gs the Turbo Kat would put them through. Their reactions while in the centrifuge are downplayed with Razor showing the most facial effects and passing out while T-Bone powers on through, something that Razor feels ashamed of. [[spoiler:Towards the end of the episode he actually stays conscious when T-Bone is forced to put the Turbo Kat through even higher speeds... only to find out that ''T-Bone'', the ''pilot'' of their jet passed out instead!]]
* In the ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998'' episode, "Him Diddle Riddle", one of Him's challenges for the girls is to defeat a giant monster without using their superpowers. At one point, Buttercup attempts to attack the monster with a military helicopter. The monster grabs the helicopter by its rotors, causing it to spin out of control. When Buttercup lands, she [[GreenAroundTheGills turns a sickly green]] and throws up in a trash can.
* In ''WesternAnimation/BebesKids'', Leon gets sick on a Tilt-A-Whirl ride and throws up inside it.
* Implied in ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy''. Ed develops an imaginary friend and has Edd and Eddy spin in a chair. He then has his imaginary friend spin in the chair and claims that it causes him to throw up.
* The ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' episode ''[[Recap/KimPossibleS2E27MotorEd Motor Ed]]'' begins with Ron flashing back to the time he ate too many hot dogs and got on a spinning ride. [[GreenAroundTheGills Ron's face turns green]] and then some poor clown below [[OhCrap looks shocked]] as [[ShadowOfImpendingDoom a growing shadow appears on his face]]. The [[VomitDiscretionShot impact happens offscreen]].
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': In "What is Reality?", the Riddler traps Commissioner Gordon in virtual reality and then traps him in a centrifuge device. Riddler taunts Batman and Robin by saying that since YourMindMakesItReal, if Gordon is not freed soon, he will suffer a heart attack. Batman attempts to CutTheJuice, but Riddler warns that the sudden stop will be like slamming into a brick wall. To free Gordon, Batman has to enter the virtual world.

* ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'': In ''[[WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventuresHowISpentMyVacation How I Spent My Vacation]]'', Hampton's family (and Plucky) go to [[ThemeParks 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]].

* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': In "Five Short Graybles", Princess Bubblegum puts a cow into a centrifuge to make the perfect block of cheese.

* 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 and have to get it back from the Lost and Found... along with an item you need to progress in the game.

* 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.]]"

* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'', "Five Short Graybles": Princess Bubblegum puts a cow into a centrifuge to make the perfect block of cheese.
* [[ItMakesSenseInContext BenMummy and a Werewolf-esque alien fight]] next to one of these in an episode of ''{{WesternAnimation/Ben10}}''.

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

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

* WesternAnimation/InspectorGadget gets the centrifuge treatment in "Launch Time".

* T-Bone and Razor are seen training in a dual centrifuge in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/SwatKats'', justified because they're vigilantes that fly an insanely fast CoolPlane and would need to train for the high gs the Turbo Kat would put them through. Their reactions while in the centrifuge are downplayed with Razor showing the most facial effects and passing out while T-Bone powers on through, something that Razor feels ashamed of. [[spoiler: Towards the end of the episode he actually stays conscious when T-Bone is forced to put the Turbo Kat through even higher speeds... only to find out that ''T-Bone'', the ''pilot'' of their jet passed out instead!]]

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{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."

* Briefly shown in ''WesternAnimation/BarbieAndTheRockersOutOfThisWorld''. Barbie, whose OP characterization has been ramped UpToEleven (to the point where she is able to afford the bajillions needed to paint a space shuttle pink--Unlike ''[[WebAnimation/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''.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' episode, "Him Diddle Riddle", one of Him's challenges for the girls is to defeat a giant monster without using their superpowers. At one point, Buttercup attempts to attack the monster with a military helicopter. The monster grabs the helicopter by its rotors, causing it to spin out of control. When Buttercup lands, she [[GreenAroundTheGills turns a sickly green]] and throws up in a trash can.