Chapter 6 (Physics 1st Year) Fluid Dynamics

Fluid Dynamics

Q # 1. Define the term ‘Viscosity’.

Ans. The amount of force required to slide one layer of liquid over another layer is called as viscosity.
Q # 2. What do you know about drag force?
Ans. An object moving through a fluid experience a retarding force called the drag force. The drag force

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depends upon the velocity of object in a fluid, i.e., the drag force increases as the speed of the particle increases.
Q # 3. State the Stoke’s law.

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Ans. The drag force on a sphere of radius moving with speed through a fluid of viscosity is described
as: 6
Q # 4. Write a note on terminal velocity of the object when it moves through an fluid.
Ans. When an object moves through a fluid, the force pulls the object downward. As the result the velocity of
the object during its motion through fluid increases.
During downward motion of the object, a drag force acts on the body in
upward direction that will tend to stop the motion of object. Thus the net force
acting on the droplet is
Net Force Weight Drag Force
The drag force depends upon the velocity of object in a fluid, i.e., the
drag force increases as the speed of the particle increases. As the speed of the
droplet continues to increase, the drag force eventually approaches weight in
magnitude. Finally, when the magnitude of the drag force becomes equal to the
weight, the net force acting on the droplet becomes zero. Then the droplet will fall
with constant speed called terminal velocity.
Q # 5. Derive the expression of terminal velocity for an object moving in a fluid.
Ans. Consider a spherical object of mass m moving a fluid of viscosity with terminal velocity . We know
that the object will move with terminal velocity when its weight will equate the drag force i.e.,
6
-------------- (1)
!
As "##$ % &'(#)*+$,% - ./0 ' $1%
2 3
Also ./0 ' 1 $ %
3
2 3
⟹ ,
3
Substituting the values in equation (1), we get:
4 3
5 , 8 2 , :
3
6 9
This is the expression of terminal velocity of the object.
Q # 6. Differentiate among the laminar and turbulent flow.
Laminar Flow
The flow is said to be streamline or laminar, if every particle that passes a particular point moves along exactly
the same path, as followed by particles which passed through that points earlier.

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Written and composed by: Prof. Muhammad Ali Malik (M. Phil. Physics), Govt. Degree College, Naushera
Chapter 6 (Physics 1st Year) Fluid Dynamics

Turbulent Flow
The irregular or unsteady flow of the fluid is called turbulent flow.
Q # 7. Describe the condition of an ideal fluid.
Ans. The conditions of an ideal fluid are:
1. The fluid is non-viscous
2. The fluid is incompressible
3.
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The fluid motion is steady
Q # 8. Derive the equation of continuity.

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Ans. Consider a fluid flowing through a pipe of non-uniform size. Let the particles in fluid move along the
streamlines as shown in the figure:
In a small time ∆*, the fluid at the lower end of the tube moves a distance ∆=> , with a velocity >. If ?>
is the area of cross-section of this end, the mass of the fluid passing through fluid in particular interval can be
find out by the expression:
∆ > ,> 1> As "##$ % &'(#)*+$,% - ./0 ' $1%
∆ > ,> ?> ∆=> ∵ 1> ?> ∆=>
∆ > ,> ?> > ∆* ∵ ∆=> > ∆*

Similarly the fluid move with velocity : through

the upper end of the pipe (area of cross-
section ?: ) in the same time ∆* has the mass:
∆ : ,: ?: : ∆*

The mass that flows into the bottom of

the pipe through ?> in time ∆* must be equal to
the mass of the liquid that flows out through ?: in
the same time. Therefore,
∆ > ∆ :

⟹ ,> ?> > ∆* ,: ?: : ∆*

⟹ ,> ?> > ,: ?: :

As the density is constant for the steady flow of incompressible

fluid, the equation becomes:
?> > ?: :

This is known as the equation of continuity. This equation

describes that
“The product of the cross-sectional area of the pipe and
the fluid speed at any point along the pipe is a constant”.
The equation of continuity is the statement of law of
conservation of mass for the case of fluid motion.

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Written and composed by: Prof. Muhammad Ali Malik (M. Phil. Physics), Govt. Degree College, Naushera
Chapter 6 (Physics 1st Year) Fluid Dynamics

Q # 9. Derive the expression of Bernoulli’s equation for the case of an ideal fluid.

Ans. Consider a fluid that is incompressible,

non viscous and flows in a steady state manner
through a pipe of non-uniform size as shown
in the figure:

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The force on the lower end of the
fluid is A> ?> , where A> is the pressure and ?>

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is the area of cross-sectional at the lower end.
The work done on the fluid in moving through
a distance ∆=> , will be:
B> C> ∆=> A> ?> ∆=>
Similarly the work done on the fluid at the upper end is:
B: C: ∆=: A: ?: ∆=:
Where A: is the pressure, ?: is the area of cross-section of lower end and ∆=: is the distance moved by the fluid
in the same time interval *. The work done B: is taken to be negative as this work is done against the fluid
force.
The net work done is
B B> D B:
B A> ?> ∆=> A: ?: ∆=:
If > and : are the velocities at the upper and lower ends respectively, then
B A> ?> > * A: ?: :* -------------- (1)
From the equation of continuity,
?> > ?: :

⟹ ?> >* ?: :* 1 $1./0 ' .E E/0)& 0(&' F.(#)&' "*).(%

The equation (1) will become:
B $A> A: %1 -------------- (2)
If is the mass and , is the density of fluid, then 1
G

So the equation (2) will become:

B $A> A: %
G

Part of this work is utilized by the fluid in changing its K.E. and a part is used in changing its gravitational P.E.
1 :
1 :
HI"( ' )( J. L. ∆J. L. : >
2 2
HI"( ' )( A. L. ∆A. L. I: I>
Where I> and I: are the heights of the upper and lower ends respectively.
Applying the law of conservation of energy to this volume of fluid, we get
1 :
1 :
$A> A: % : > D I: I>
, 2 2

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Written and composed by: Prof. Muhammad Ali Malik (M. Phil. Physics), Govt. Degree College, Naushera
Chapter 6 (Physics 1st Year) Fluid Dynamics

1 1 1
$A> A: % N :
:
:
> D I: I> O
, 2 2
1 1
$A> A: % , :
: , :
> D , I: , I>
2 2
Rearranging the above equation:
1 1
A> D , >: D , I> A: D , :: D , I:
2 2

AD , :
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This is Bernoulli’s equation and is often expressed as:
1
D, I F.(#*"(*

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2
Q # 10. State and prove the Torricelli’s theorem.
Statement
The speed of efflux is equal to the velocity gained by
the fluid in falling through a distance (I> I: ) under the action
of gravity.
Proof
Suppose a large tank of fluid has a small orifice on it. Since the
orifice is so small, the efflux speed P is much larger than Q of
the top surface of water. We can therefore, take Q

approximately equal to zero. Hence the Bernoulli’s equation can

be written as:
1 :
A> D , I> A: D , : D , I:
2
But A> A: ?* .#RI' )F A '##0 '
1 :
, I> , : D , I:
2
1 :
: I: I>
2
: S2 $I: I> %
This is the expression of speed of efflux from the orifice. It is important to note that the speed of the
efflux of liquid is the same as the speed of ball that falls through a height (I> I: ).
This is the Torricelli’s theorem which states that:
The speed of efflux is equal to the velocity gained by the fluid in
falling through a distance (I> I: ) under the action of gravity.
Q # 11. Describe the relationship between speed and pressure of the fluid.
Ans. A result of Bernoulli’s equation is that
“ Where the speed is high, the pressure will be low”
Explanation
Suppose that water flows through a pipe system as shown in the
figure. Clearly, the water flows faster at point 2 than it does at point 1.
Consider the flow speed at point 1 is 0.20 # U> and at point 2 it

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Written and composed by: Prof. Muhammad Ali Malik (M. Phil. Physics), Govt. Degree College, Naushera
Chapter 6 (Physics 1st Year) Fluid Dynamics

is 2 # U> . Applying the Bernoulli’s equation and noting that the average P.E. is the same at both places, we
have
1 :
1 :
A> D , > A: D , :
2 2
Substituting > 0.20 # U> , : 2 # U> and , 1000 V U3
, we get:
U:
A> A: 1980 X

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This shows that the pressure in the narrow pipe where the streamline are closer together is much smaller than in
the wider pipe.

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Q # 12. Explain the relationship between velocity and pressure for the following cases.
Lift on an Aero plane
Swing of the tennis ball in air
Ans.
Lift on an Aero plane
The lift on an aero plane is explained on the basis of relationship
between pressure and velocity. The wing of the aero plane is designed to
deflect the air so that the streamlines are closer together above the wing
than below it. Thus, air is travelling faster on the upper side of the wing
than on the lower. As the result, the pressure will be lower at the top of the
wing, and the wing will be forced upward.
Swing of the tennis ball in air

When a tennis ball is hit by the racket in such a way that it

spins as well as moves forward, the velocity of air on one side of the
ball increases due to spin and hence the pressure decreases. This
gives an extra curvature to the ball known as swing which deceives
an opponent player.
Q # 13. Derive the Venturi relation for an ideal fluid.
Ans. If one part of a pipe has a much smaller diameter than the other, we write Bernoulli equation in more
convenient form. It is assumed that the pipe is horizontal , I terms becomes equal. Thus the Bernoulli equation
is expressed as:
1 :
1
A> D , A: D , ::
>
2 2
1 : 1 :
⟹ A> A: , ,
2 : 2 >
1
⟹ A> A: ,$ :: :
>%
2
As the cross-sectional area ?: is small as compared to the area ?> , then from equation of continuity >
YZ
5 8 :, will be small as compared to :. Thus we can neglect > on the right hand side of the equation. Hence
Y[

1 :
A> A: , :
2
This is known as Venturi relation, which is used in Venturi meter, a device used to measure speed of liquid
flow.

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Written and composed by: Prof. Muhammad Ali Malik (M. Phil. Physics), Govt. Degree College, Naushera
Chapter 6 (Physics 1st Year) Fluid Dynamics

Q # 14. How the blood pressure of a person is measured?

Ans. The blood pressure of a person is measured using a device called sphygmomanometer. It consist of an
inflatable bag, that is wound around the arm of a patient and external pressure on the arm is increased by
inflating the bag.
When the external pressure applied becomes larger than the systolic pressure, the vessels collapse,
cutting off the flow of the blood. Opening the release valve on the ball gradually decrease the external pressure.

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A stethoscope detects the instant at which the external pressure becomes equal to the systolic pressure.
At this point, the blood flow through the vessel with very high speed. As a result the flow is initially turbulent.

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As the pressure drops, the external pressure eventually equals the diastolic pressure. The flow of the
blood switches from turbulent to laminar, and gurgle in the stethoscope disappears. This is the signal to record
the diastolic pressure.

EXERCISE SHORT QUESTIONS

Q # 1. Explain what do you know about the term ‘Viscosity’?

Ans. The amount of force required to slide one layer of liquid over another layer is called as viscosity. It is
denoted by the Greek word .
Q # 2. What is meant by drag force? What are the factors upon which the drag force acting upon a small
sphere of radius r, moving down through a liquid, depends?
Ans. An object moving through a fluid experience a retarding force called the drag force. The drag force
depends upon the velocity of object in a fluid, i.e., the drag force increases as the speed of the particle increases.
The other factors upon which the drag force drag force depends are the shape and size of material.
Q # 3. Why fog droplets appear to be suspended in air?
Ans. When the magnitude of the drag force on the fog droplet becomes equal to its weight, the net force acting
on the droplet is zero. In such a case, the droplet starts falling with a constant speed and appears to be suspended
in air.
Q # 4. Explain what the difference between laminar and turbulent flow.
Laminar Flow
The flow is said to be streamline or laminar, if every particle that passes a particular point moves along
exactly the same path, as followed by particles which passed through that points earlier.
Turbulent Flow
The irregular or unsteady flow of the fluid is called turbulent flow.
Q # 5. State Bernoulli’s relation for a liquid in motion and describe some of its applications?
Ans. The principle states that the sum of pressure, the kinetic and potential energy per unit volume for an ideal
fluid remains constant at every point of its path.
Mathematically, it is described as:
1
A D , : + , ℎ = F.(#*"(*
2
Where P is the pressure, v is the velocity and , is density of the fluid.
The Bernoulli relation is important in nozzle design and in flow measurements.

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Written and composed by: Prof. Muhammad Ali Malik (M. Phil. Physics), Govt. Degree College, Naushera
Chapter 6 (Physics 1st Year) Fluid Dynamics

Q # 6. A person is standing near a fast moving train. Is there any danger that he will fall towards it?
Ans. When a person is standing near a fast moving train, then the air between them is also fast. According to
Bernoulli, where the speed is high, pressure will be low. So the pressure between the person and train will be
low as compared to the pressure of side way. So there will be a chance of force acting on the person from high
pressure region to the low pressure region and that he may fall towards the train.
Q # 7. Identify the correct answer. What do you infer from Bernoulli’s theorem?
i)
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Where the speed of the fluid is high the pressure will be low .
ii) Where the speed of the fluid is high the pressure is also high.

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iii) This theorem is valid only for turbulent flow of the liquid.
Ans. The correct answer is (1) where the speed of the fluid is high the pressure will be low.
This is in accordance with the Bernoulli’s equation, which states for a horizontal pipe,
1 1
A> + , :
> A: D , :
:
2 2
Q # 8. Two row boats moving parallel in the same direction are pulled towards each other. Explain?
Ans. When two boats are moving parallel in the same direction, then the water between them is also flowing
fast. According to Bernoulli, where the speed is high, pressure will be low. So the pressure between the tow
boats decreases as compared to the pressure of side way. So the side way high pressure pushes the two boats
towards each other.
Q # 9. Explain, how the swing is produced in a fast moving cricket ball?
Ans. When the cricket ball is thrown in such a way that is spins as well as moves forward, the velocity of the air
on one side of the ball increases due to the spins and hence the pressure decreases. This gives an extra curvature
to the ball known as swing which deceives opponent player.
Q # 10. Explain the working of a carburetor of a motor car using Bernoulli’s principal.
Ans. The carburetor of a motor car uses a Venturi duct to give correct mixture of air and petrol to the engine.
The petrol tank is attached with a pipe through a very small inlet. Air moves very fast through this pipe. As a
result, pressure in the pipe decreases as compared to the pressure in the petrol tank which is atmospheric
pressure. So the petrol moves from the tank to the air pipe (i.e., from high pressure to low pressure), and a
correct mixture of petrol and air reaches the engine.
Q # 11. For what position will the maximum blood pressure in the body have the smallest value.
(a) Standing up right (b) Sitting (c) Lying Horizontally (d)Standing on one’s head?
Ans. The option (c) is correct. The blood pressure will have the smallest value when a person lying horizontally.
Q # 12. In orbiting space station, would the blood pressure in the major arteries in the leg ever be greater
than the blood pressure in major arteries in the neck.
Ans. In an orbiting space station, due to weightlessness, the blood pressure in the major arteries in the leg will
be equal to the blood pressure in major arteries in the neck.

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Written and composed by: Prof. Muhammad Ali Malik (M. Phil. Physics), Govt. Degree College, Naushera