SUB-TOPIC: FLUID FLOW
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
The learner should be able to;
• Carryout experiment to demonstrate streamline flow and turbulence.
• State the relationship between pressure, velocity and closeness of streamlines.
• Mention and explain practical applications of the relationship between pressure and
velocity.
• Identify and draw forces on an object falling in a fluid
• Explain the factors that led to terminal velocity.
• Explain the factors that lead to terminal velocity.
• Displacement-time graphs to illustrate terminal velocity.
Fluids in motion:
A fluid is any substance that can flow freely.
Fluids are usually either liquids or gases.
Examples of fluids in motion include:
• Sea water breaking against the seashore.
• Flow of water in a river.
• Columns of smoke swirling up from chimneys, e.t.c.
Streamline and Turbulent Flow
Streamline flow (steady flow) or laminar
A streamline flow is one where, at a given point, each and every molecule of the fluid
travels in the same direction and with same velocity.
When a water tap is opened slightly, the water oozes out slowly in form of a thin smooth
orderly stream. As the tap is opened further, eventually the water flows fast and the order
disappears. Thus, by increasing the velocity, the flow changes from being steady and
orderly to being unsteady and disorderly.
The orderly flow of a fluid is termed as streamline flow.
In streamline flow, the liquid molecules move in layers and do not cross from one layer to
another i.e. each and every molecule of the fluid travels in the same direction and with the
same speed.
Streamline flow occurs when the fluid is moving at low speeds.
NOTE:
A streamline is a line indicating the path of the particles having a streamline flow.
Conditions for streamline flow:
1. The fluid must be non-viscous such that there is no friction between the layers of the
fluid.
2. there should be no friction between the liquid and the walls of the pipe.
1
Usually the above conditions are impossible to fulfill and fluids rarely flow at the same
velocity at all points throughout the fluid.
Turbulent flow
This is a fluid (gas or liquid) flow characterized by irregular movement of the particles of
the fluid.
In turbulent flow the speed of the fluid at a point is continuously undergoing changes in
both magnitude and direction.
In a turbulent flow, the molecules in a fluid move in many different directions and at many
different speeds.
CONDITIONS FOR TURBULENT FLOW
o The pipe should be non-uniform
o There should be friction in the fluid.
o The liquid should be compressible
o The pipe should have bends/curves
Demonstration of Streamline and Turbulent Flow
Coloured water
Transparent tank
Tap B Clear water
Transparent tube
Tap A
Jet Thin coloured line
A transparent tank, fitted with a horizontal transparent tube is filled with water from a tap.
Tap A controls the rate of flow through the horizontal tube while tap B opens for the
coloured liquid.
Tap A is opened, first slightly and then B is opened to release some coloured liquid.
Tap A is progressively opened further.
Observation
At first a thin coloured line is seen in the horizontal tube. This is streamline flow. However,
as A is opened further, the coloured line disappears and instead the colour fills the whole
tube. The flow has now become turbulent.
Relationship between Pressure, Velocity and Closeness of streamlines.
A streamline is a path where molecules have steady speed and each molecule retraces the
path of the one directly ahead of it. Where the streamlines are close, the velocity of the
fluid is high but the pressure is low, and vice versa. This was discovered by a scientist
known as Bernoulli.
The diagram below shows air flowing past an object. The shape of the object makes the air
above it to flow faster and at reduced pressure than that passing below. So the streamlines
above are closer.
2
Low pressure region
Object Object
Higher pressure region
The following experiments demonstrate Bernoulli’s effect:
When a stream of fast moving air is blown between two freely suspended balloons, the
balloons will move closer to each other.
Fast moving air
When a stream of fast moving air is blown between two thin sheets of paper held vertically
close to each other, the sheets will move closer to each other.
When a stream of fast moving air is blown below a thin sheet of paper held horizontally on
pieces of wooden blocks, the paper will move downwards. If the air is blown above the
same paper, it will move upwards.
Explanation:
The above demonstrations, the pressure is reduced in the regions where the air is moving
at high velocity compared to the pressure where the air velocity was lower. This causes the
greater pressure to push the objects towards the regions were the pressure has reduced.
Explaining Bernoulli’s effect:
By considering a liquid that is flowing steadily along a horizontal pipe which has a
constriction in the middle with narrow vertical tubes, P, Q and R that act as manometers.
If the liquid has streamline flow, then the rate of flow of liquid at any section of the pipe is
the same.
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 × 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 = = = 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 × 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
It follows that the liquid is faster in the narrow section of the tube, B than in the wider
sections of A and C.
3
This means that the pressure of the liquid is lower at B in the narrow tube, and its greater
in the wider sections of the tube at A and C.
P Q R
h1 h3
h2
B
A C
Since liquid pressure is given by the equation ℎ𝜌𝑔, then the liquid columns at A and C are
such that ℎ1 = ℎ3 . Therefore, the liquid pressure is equal at A and C. But ℎ1 > ℎ2, where ℎ2
is the height of the liquid column at B. This means that the liquid pressure at A and C is
greater than that at B.
This proves that pressure is maximum when the velocity is a minimum.
The above relationship is known as Bernoulli’s principle or Bernoulli’s effect.
Bernoulli's principle is an idea of fluid dynamics. It says that as speed of
the fluid increases, pressure decreases.
Note: In the sections where the velocity is greatest, the streamlines are closest together
and vice-versa.
Applications of Bernoulli’s principle:
This principle is applied:
• Aerofoils (useful in steering an aeroplane).
• in carburetors
• in sprayers
• Bunsen burners, e.t.c.
1. The spray gun. nozzle
Spray of the liquid
air
piston
air
tube T
liquid
When the piston is pushed in, it forces the air in the cylinder to move with a high velocity
over the tip of the tube, T. This causes the air inside the cylinder to fall below that in the
liquid reservoir. The pressure acting on the liquid surface forces the liquid to rise up the
tube, T. The liquid breaks into a fine spray due to the impact of the high velocity molecules
of air.
A paint sprayer, perfume or deodorant sprayer also works on the same principle.
Bunsen burner
In a Bunsen burner, the gas is made to escape with a high velocity through a fine nozzle.
The pressure in the area near the nozzle is reduced and as a result, the air from the outside
atmosphere is drawn in and mixes with the gas.
4
air
nozzle
2. Aero foil
Low pressure region
aerofoil Object
Higher pressure region
The wing of an aircraft has a curved upper surface and a flat under surface. This compels
the air passing over the top of the wing to travel a longer distance resulting in a higher air
velocity than that below the bottom surface.
Since the velocity of the air is higher on the top surface, the pressure is lower than that at
the bottom surface.
The pressure difference above and below the wing produces a large lifting force causing
the aircraft to rise.
Question
Explain how the thatched roof of a hut can be completely lifted off the hut by a strong wind.
P2
Answer:
Strong wind P1
A strong wind blowing over the roof top with
a high velocity creates a low pressure above
the roof top compared to the atmospheric pressure
below the roof. The pressure difference, (P 1 –P2) causes an upward force and the roof is
lifted up and may be blown off by the wind.
Probe questions:
‘It is dangerous to stand near the edge of a platform in a railway station, when a fast
moving train passes without stopping’. Explain the statement using Bernoulli’s principle.
“Air flow over the wings of an aircraft causes a lift”. Explain this statement with the aid of a
diagram.
Viscosity
Viscosity is a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow. It describes the internal friction of a
moving fluid.
Viscosity in Liquids
When a liquid is flowing, the different layers of its molecules do not move at the same
velocity. This means that the adjacent planes of molecules are sliding (rubbing) over each
other. The molecules adjacent to the walls of the container are held stationary because of
adhesion. The further away from the walls the molecules are, the higher is their velocity.
S.3 FLUID FLOW NOTES 2019 EDITED BY MSE 5
The intermolecular attraction creates a force that opposes sliding of the planes of liquid
molecules. This is known as the viscous force.
The viscous force resists flow of a fluid and the movement of an object through a fluid.
Viscosity increases with velocity. To prove this, stir a liquid in a beaker, first slowly and
then increase the speed. At higher speeds the force opposing the motion of the stirrer is
greater.
A liquid with high viscosity flows very slowly. You may compare water with oil. Which one
has higher viscosity? High viscosity liquids are used as lubricants.
Viscosity decreases as the temperature of the liquid rises.
Viscosity in gases
In a gas, the intermolecular attraction is negligible but the molecules collide frequently
with each other and with any object that is moving through the gas. The momentum
transfers involved bring about viscosity in a gas.
Fall of Objects through the Atmosphere
Up thrust Viscous force
Weight
When an object is released to fall through air, in addition to its weight and upthrust due to
air, it experiences a viscous force due to the air. The weight (gravity) acts downwards
while the up thrust and the viscous force act upwards on such a body (See diagram below)
So, at first the body accelerates downwards, but since the viscous force goes on increasing
with velocity, eventually the body can no longer accelerate. It reaches a maximum constant
velocity known as the terminal velocity.
Below is a velocity-time graph for the motion of such a body.
Factors Affecting Terminal Velocity:
• density of the medium (the fluid)
• density of the falling body
• viscosity of the fluid
Motion of a body through fluids
When a body falls through a fluid, it is acted on by forces namely;
• Weight of the body
S.3 FLUID FLOW NOTES 2019 EDITED BY MSE 6
• Viscous force
• Up thrust
The weight of the body acts downwards towards the earth. Upthrust acts upwards and
viscous force acts in the direction opposite to the motion.
U V
mg
EXPLANATION OF THE PARTS OF THE GRAPH
As the body falls, it accelerates first with net resultant force
𝐹 = 𝑊 – (𝑈 + 𝑉)
As the body continues to fall, it attains a uniform velocity called terminal velocity. When
the weight of the body 𝑊 = 𝑈 + 𝑉
At this stage the resultant force or net force of the body is zero.
DEFINITION OF TERMINAL VELOCITY
This is a constant or uniform velocity with which a body falling through a fluid moves such
that the upward forces acting on it are equal to its weight.
OR
Is the uniform velocity attained by a body falling through a fluid when the net force on the
body is zero.
In case of a balloon or a rain drop falling, the resisting force or retarding force on the body
is called air resistance.
Factors Affecting Terminal Velocity
o density of the medium (the fluid)
o density of the falling body
o viscosity of the fluid
o shape of the body
o radius (size) of the body.
Applications of terminal velocity
o Sky diving: Air resistance opposes motion of the objects falling freely in air. When a
skydiver opens a parachute in air, the large surface area as well as the design of the
parachute increases air resistance. This in turn lowers the terminal velocity which helps
the sky diver land safely on the ground.
o Rain drops. : The small size of raindrops lowers the terminal velocity hence little or no
damage is caused to plants when it rains.
THE END
