Shatter & Collide

At high RPMs, CDs can experience structural failure due to the immense centrifugal forces generated, which can exceed the material’s tensile strength.

Standard CDs are designed for speeds up to around 500 RPM in typical players, but when spun at rates above 20,000 RPM—like in high-speed drives or certain testing scenarios—the forces on the CD’s outer edges can cause it to warp, crack, or even shatter.

This is because the polycarbonate material used in CDs isn’t built to withstand such intense stress, and any microscopic imperfections can lead to rapid fracturing under high rotational force.

To mitigate risks, most high-speed drives have built-in RPM limits and automatic slowdown mechanisms when reading CDs.