Differential centrifugation is a technique used to separate cellular components like organelles based on sedimentation rate differences caused by varying density, size, shape when spun at increasing centrifugal forces; it involves homogenizing a sample, centrifuging sequentially at low speeds to pellet larger components then higher speeds to further separate smaller ones, allowing fractionation of components from nuclei to ribosomes into pellets and supernatants. Differential centrifugation has applications in separating various mixtures and purifying biomolecules, cells, and subcellular structures.