What is the Svedberg coefficient?

The Svedberg coefficient is a nonlinear function. The Svedberg coefficient is the measure of the rate of sedimentation of a molecule or particle; it is the ratio of a particle's sedimentation speed to the centrifugal field causing the sedimentation. As an example,  the 70S ribosome  has sedimentation times of 70 X 10^-13, 50 X 10^-13, and 30 X10^-13 seconds. The 70S ribosome is the largest and will sediment the fastest. On the other hand, the 30S is the smallest ribosome and will sediment the slowest.