ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Lamm equation

Okay kiddo, let's talk about the Lamm Equation. Have you ever seen a spinner or a merry-go-round? You know how when it spins really fast, things on the outside go around faster than things on the inside? Well, this is kind of like that.

The Lamm Equation is a way to measure how particles move within a spinning device called an ultracentrifuge. We put a sample in the ultracentrifuge and spin it really fast. The particles in the sample start to move away from the center of the device, just like the people on the merry-go-round move away from the center.

Now, here's where it gets a little tricky. Different particles in the sample move at different speeds as they move away from the center. This is because they have different sizes and shapes. The Lamm Equation helps us calculate how fast each particle is moving based on its size and shape.

Why would we want to do this? Well, it helps us understand more about the particles in the sample. For example, if we're studying proteins in the sample, we can use the Lamm Equation to figure out how many different types of proteins there are and how big they are. This information can help us learn more about how the proteins work and how they might be involved in certain diseases.

So, in summary, the Lamm Equation helps us figure out how fast particles move within a spinning device called an ultracentrifuge. This information can help us learn more about the particles in a sample and how they might be involved in various biological processes.