AP Physics 2 : Fluid Dynamics

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics 2

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Fluid Dynamics

The mass flow rate through a cylindrical pipe of cross sectional area \(\displaystyle A = 0.5m^2\) is \(\displaystyle \dot{m} = 1,500\frac{kg}{s}\). What is the pressure drop over a distance \(\displaystyle L = 10m\)?

 

Assume \(\displaystyle \mu_w=1.002x10^{-3}Pa\cdot s\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1.5Pa\)

\(\displaystyle 2.5Pa\)

\(\displaystyle 2.0Pa\)

\(\displaystyle 0.5Pa\)

\(\displaystyle 1.0Pa\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1.5Pa\)

Explanation:

We will use Poiseuille's law to solve this problem:

\(\displaystyle \Delta P=\frac{8\mu LQ}{\pi r^4}\)  

We can determine the volumetric flow rate from the mass flow rate:

\(\displaystyle Q = \frac{\dot{m}}{\rho_w} = \frac{1,500\frac{kg}{s}}{1,000\frac{kg}{m^3}} = 1.5\frac{m^3}{s}\)  

Now to determine an expression for radius:

\(\displaystyle A = \pi r^2\)

\(\displaystyle r^2 = \frac{A}{\pi}\)

\(\displaystyle r^4 = \frac{A^2}{\pi^2}\)  

Plugging this into the first expression, we get:

\(\displaystyle \Delta P = \frac{8\pi \mu L Q}{A^2}\)

Now plugging in all of our values:

\(\displaystyle \Delta P = \frac{8\pi (1x10^{-3}Pa\cdot s)(10m)\left ( 1.5\frac{m^3}s{}\right )}{(0.5m^2)^2}\)

\(\displaystyle \Delta P = 1.5Pa\)

Example Question #1 : Fluid Dynamics

Water enters a circular tube at a velocity of \(\displaystyle 20\frac{m}{s}\). If the pressure drops by \(\displaystyle 4kPa\) after a distance of \(\displaystyle 2km\), what is the diameter of the tube?

 

\(\displaystyle \mu_w = 1.002x10^{-3}Pa\cdot s\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 33cm\)

\(\displaystyle 1.7m\)

\(\displaystyle 81cm\)

\(\displaystyle 57cm\)

\(\displaystyle 1.1m\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 57cm\)

Explanation:

Let's begin with the generic form of Poiseulle's law:

\(\displaystyle \Delta P = \frac{8\mu_wLQ}{\pi r^4}\)

Where:

\(\displaystyle Q = vA_c = v\pi r^2\)

Substituting this in:

\(\displaystyle \Delta P = \frac{8\mu_wLv\pi r^2}{\pi r^4} = \frac{8\mu_wLv}{r^2}\)

And:

\(\displaystyle r = \frac{d}{2}\)

Substituting this in:

 

\(\displaystyle \Delta P = \frac{8\mu_wLv}{\left (\frac{d}{2} \right )^2}\)

\(\displaystyle \Delta P = \frac{32\mu_wLv}{d^2}\)

Rearranging for diameter:

\(\displaystyle d = \sqrt{\frac{32\mu_wLv}{\Delta P}}\)

Plugging in values:

\(\displaystyle d = \sqrt{\frac{32(1.002x10^{-3}Pa\cdot s)(2,000m)\left ( 20\frac{m}{s}\right )}{4,000Pa}}\)

\(\displaystyle d = 57cm\)

 

Example Question #3 : Poiseuille Flow

Dynamic viscosity of water: \(\displaystyle 8.90*10^{-4}Pa*s\)

Find the pressure change due to the Hagen-Poiseuille law in a \(\displaystyle 15m\) long pipe of radius \(\displaystyle 10cm\), where the water is flowing at \(\displaystyle 3\frac{m}{s}\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 76.4 Pa\)

\(\displaystyle 68.84 Pa\)

\(\displaystyle 16.78 Pa\)

\(\displaystyle 32.04 Pa\)

None of these

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 32.04 Pa\)

Explanation:

Using

\(\displaystyle \Delta P=\frac{32\mu*L*v}{d^2}\)

Where \(\displaystyle \mu\) is the dynamic viscosity

\(\displaystyle L\) is the length of the pipe

\(\displaystyle v\) is the velocity of the fluid

\(\displaystyle d\) is the diameter of the pipe

Plugging in values:

\(\displaystyle \Delta P=\frac{32*8.9*10^{-4}*15*3}{.20^2}\)

\(\displaystyle \Delta P= 32.04 Pa\)

Example Question #4 : Poiseuille Flow

Dynamic viscosity of water: \(\displaystyle 8.90*10^{-4}Pa*s\)

Find the pressure change due to the Hagen-Poiseuille law in a \(\displaystyle 25m\) long pipe of radius \(\displaystyle 18cm\), where the water is flowing at \(\displaystyle 9\frac{m}{s}\).

Possible Answers:

None of these

\(\displaystyle \Delta P= 37.51 Pa\)

\(\displaystyle \Delta P= 33.88 Pa\)

\(\displaystyle \Delta P= 40.14 Pa\)

\(\displaystyle \Delta P= 49.44 Pa\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \Delta P= 49.44 Pa\)

Explanation:

Using

\(\displaystyle \Delta P=\frac{32\mu*L*v}{d^2}\)

Where \(\displaystyle \mu\) is the dynamic viscosity

\(\displaystyle L\) is the length of the pipe

\(\displaystyle v\) is the velocity of the fluid

\(\displaystyle d\) is the diameter of the pipe

Plugging in values:

\(\displaystyle \Delta P=\frac{32*8.9*10^{-4}*25*9}{.36^2}\)

\(\displaystyle \Delta P= 49.44 Pa\)

Example Question #1 : Poiseuille Flow

Suppose two pipes made out of an identical material have the same length and the same liquid flowing through them. If pipe A has a cross-sectional diameter that is twice as great as pipe B, how does the flow rate in pipe A differ from the flow rate in pipe B?

Possible Answers:

The flow rate in pipe B is greater than pipe A by a factor of \(\displaystyle 4\)

The flow rate is the same in both pipes

The flow rate in pipe A is greater than pipe B by a factor of \(\displaystyle 16\)

The flow rate in pipe B is greater than pipe A by a factor of \(\displaystyle 16\)

The flow rate in pipe A is greater than pipe B by a factor of \(\displaystyle 4\)

Correct answer:

The flow rate in pipe A is greater than pipe B by a factor of \(\displaystyle 16\)

Explanation:

For this question, we're asked to consider two pipes. Each pipe has the same length, is made out of the same material, and has the same fluid moving through it. The only difference is the cross-sectional diameter of these pipes. We're asked to find how the flow rate will differ between the two pipes.

In order to solve this question, we'll need to use Poiseuille's equation.

\(\displaystyle Q=\frac{\pi \Delta P r^{4}}{8\eta l}\)

This equation tells us that the volume flow rate is directly proportional to two things: the pressure gradient between the ends of the pipe and the radius of the pipe raised to the fourth power. Moreover, the volume flow rate is inversely proportional to the viscosity of the fluid and also to the length of the pipe.

Now we need to ask the question - which of the variables in this equation is different in pipes A and B? Both pipes have the same length. Since each pipe has the same fluid moving through it, the viscosity will also be the same. Furthermore, we can assume that the pressure gradient at the end of each pipe is the same. The only thing that's left is the radius.

We're told that the diameter of pipe A is twice as great as pipe B. Since the radius is just half of the diameter, this also means that the radius of pipe A is twice as great as pipe B. Because the volume flow rate is dependent on the radius of the pipe raised to the fourth power, we can see that doubling the radius will result in a \(\displaystyle 16\) fold difference in the volume flow rate. Thus, the flow rate in pipe A will be \(\displaystyle 16\) times the flow rate in pipe B.

Example Question #1 : Fluid Dynamics

Turbulent flow is characterized by __________

Possible Answers:

All of these

low flow rates 

irregular and chaotic flow 

regular streamlines

Correct answer:

irregular and chaotic flow 

Explanation:

Turbulent flow is caused by sufficiently high flow rates, and is characterized by chaotic and irregular flow patterns. Streamlines represent the curves tangent to the point of the direction of flow; thus, if a flow is turbulent the streamlines will be chaotic as well. 

Example Question #1 : Fluid Dynamics

Which of the following is an example of turbulent flow? 

Possible Answers:

The wisps of smoke from a blown-out candle 

The flow of water in the center of a calm stream

The flow of water through a hose

Pouring olive oil into a pan 

Correct answer:

The wisps of smoke from a blown-out candle 

Explanation:

The wisps of smoke from a blown out candle start out a smooth, but eventually swirl and become chaotic and turbulent. The other examples can be intuitively thought of as smooth flow, and thus are laminar. 

Example Question #1 : Fluid Dynamics

Methanol is traveling through a cylindrical tube with a diameter of \(\displaystyle 2cm\). What is the maximum velocity of methanol that maintains laminar flow?

 

\(\displaystyle \rho_m = 792\frac{kg}{m^3}\)

\(\displaystyle \mu_m = 0.611x10^{-3}Pa\cdot s\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3.9x10^{-4}\frac{m}{s}\)

\(\displaystyle 7.6x10^{-5}\frac{m}{s}\)

\(\displaystyle 2.1x10^{-2}\frac{m}{s}\)

\(\displaystyle 0.91\frac{m}{s}\)

\(\displaystyle 5.1x10^{-3}\frac{m}{s}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 3.9x10^{-4}\frac{m}{s}\)

Explanation:

We will use the expression for Reynold's number for this problem:

\(\displaystyle Re = \frac{\rho_m vD_H}{\mu_m}\)

Where \(\displaystyle D_H\) is the hydraulic diameter, and for a cylindrical tube, \(\displaystyle D_H = D\)

Rearranging for velocity:

\(\displaystyle v = \frac{Re\mu_m}{\rho_m D}\)

For laminar flow: \(\displaystyle Re \leq 10\)

Plugging in our values into the expression, we get:

\(\displaystyle v = \frac{10(.611x10^{-3}Pa\cdot s)}{\left ( 792\frac{kg}{m^3}\right )(0.02m)}\)

\(\displaystyle v = 3.9x10^{-4}\frac{m}{s}\)

 

Methanol has a relatively low viscosity, so it only has a very small range for laminar flow and quickly becomes turbulent

Example Question #3 : Fluid Dynamics

 

 

What is the Reynold's number of water flowing through a circular tube of diameter \(\displaystyle 8cm\) at a rate of \(\displaystyle 6\frac{m}{s}\)?

 

Assume \(\displaystyle \mu_w=1.002x10^{-3}Pa\cdot s\) and \(\displaystyle \rho_w = 1,000\frac{kg}{m^3}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 48,000\)

\(\displaystyle 480,000\)

\(\displaystyle 4,800\)

\(\displaystyle 480\)

\(\displaystyle 4,800,000\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 480,000\)

Explanation:

We will use the expression for Reynold's number for this problem:

\(\displaystyle Re = \frac{\rho_w vD_H}{\mu_w}\)

Where \(\displaystyle D_H\) is the hydraulic diameter, and for a cylindrical tube, \(\displaystyle D_H = D\)

Plugging in our values, we get:

\(\displaystyle Re = \frac{\left ( 1,000\frac{kg}{m^3}\right )\left ( 6\frac{m}{s}\right )(0.08m)}{\left ( 1.002x10^{-3}Pa\cdot s\right )}\)

\(\displaystyle Re = 480,000\)

Example Question #2 : Turbulence

What is the Reynold's number of water flowing through a fully filled rectangle duct that is \(\displaystyle 50x30cm\) at a velocity \(\displaystyle v = 2.5\frac{m}{s}\)?

 

Assume \(\displaystyle \mu_w=1.002x10^{-3}Pa\cdot s\) and \(\displaystyle \rho_w = 1,000\frac{kg}{m^3}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1,000,000\)

\(\displaystyle 940,000\)

\(\displaystyle 10,000\)

None of the other answers

\(\displaystyle 9,400\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 940,000\)

Explanation:

We will use the expression for Reynold's number for this problem:

\(\displaystyle Re = \frac{\rho_w vD_H}{\mu_w}\)

For a fully filled rectangular duct, the hydraulic diameter is:

\(\displaystyle D_H = \frac{2wh}{w+h}\)

Plugging in values:

\(\displaystyle D_H = \frac{2(0.5m\cdot 0.3m)}{0.5m + 0.3m} = 0.375m\)

Now we can plug our values into the original expression:

\(\displaystyle Re = \frac{\left ( 1,000\frac{kg}{m^3}\right )(2.5\frac{m}{s})(0.375m)}{\left ( 1.002x10^{-3}Pa\cdot s\right )}\)

\(\displaystyle Re = 940,000\)

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