A centrifugal governor responds to rotational-speed change through the ω² scaling of ideal centrifugal force. This calculator reports relative scaling only; it does not predict a Silver governor's equilibrium speed, sleeve travel or engine control response.
Marine Governor Relative Centrifugal Scaling
Explore exact relative centrifugal scaling with a connected rotating spindle and selected flyweight count.
Equation Used
- The comparison uses one normalized baseline speed.
- Flyweight mass, count and radius are unchanged between baseline and selected speed.
- Ideal centrifugal force scales with angular speed squared.
- Restoring forces, sleeve load, friction, damping, stability and engine dynamics are excluded.
The mass-weighted relative index is an arithmetic comparison quantity, not a force measurement.
Spindle, radial arms and flyweights
The animation shows a connected rotating spindle with the selected number of representative radial flyweights. Display radius changes modestly with selected relative speed only for visualization and is not an equilibrium solution.
What the calculator determines
Select a speed change from a normalized baseline, flyweight mass and count. The calculator reports speed ratio, ideal centrifugal-force ratio, signed force change and the selected mass-weighted relative index n·m·ratio².
Relative centrifugal scaling
Speed ratio s = max(0,1+ΔN/100); force ratio = s²; force change = 100(s²−1); relative index = nms².
Selected-input arithmetic
A 10% speed increase gives a 1.10 speed ratio and a 1.21 ideal centrifugal-force ratio, or 21% increase at unchanged radius.
Relative reference only
The result excludes absolute speed, flyweight radius, gravity, springs, linkage geometry, sleeve load, friction, damping, equilibrium, stability, hunting, valve gear and engine dynamics. The mass-weighted index is not force.
Questions
Why does force scale with speed squared?
At unchanged mass and radius, ideal centrifugal force is proportional to angular speed squared.
Does this calculate governor set speed?
No. Absolute geometry, loads and restoring forces are absent.
Primary and authoritative references
- Science Museum Group, Model to illustrate Thomas Silver's marine governor — museum collection record identifying the historical model, maker association, dimensions, and speed-governor category.
- Machinery and Millwork, chapter on regulating apparatus — historical engineering text describing Silver's four-ball, spring-opposed, gravity-balanced marine-governor arrangement.
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