Fluid Movement

Laminar flow
A fluid can move either in laminar flow (streamline flow) and turbulent flow. In general, laminar flow occurs at
lower speeds and will become turbulent flow once the fluid velocity passes a certain value.

e.g. water flowing through a pipe. The water can be thought of as several layers of cylinders. The outer layer
will experience the most friction with the pipe and thus will flow more slowly. The next layer will experience
the friction of the slower moving outer layer, but this force will be less the for the outer layer. This frictional
force gradually decreases towards the middle, so the middle of the flow will move the fastest.

If a fluid follows Newton’s laws regarding the frictional force between layers in a streamline flow, the fluid is
described as newtonian.

For a relatively slow flow, with no sudden changes in velocity or direction, fluid flow is likely to be laminar.
During laminar flow, parallel layers of the fluid do not cross over.

Turbulent flow

If the fluid flows at high velocity or encounters sudden changes in velocity, flow can turn turbulent.

Viscosity

Viscosity means “how thick it is”. Higher viscosity means larger internat friction between layers of particles.
e.g. Treacle has a higher viscosity than water.

The more viscous the fluid, the less prone it is to turbulent flow.

Viscosity is temperature dependant. The higher the temperature, the lower the viscosity.
At high temperatures, intermolecular forces weaken, hence reducing viscosity.

Stoke’s Law

For a SMALL SPHERE at LOW VELOCITY through a liquid flowing around it in a laminar fashion.

F = 6 * pi * eta * velocity * radius

Where eta is the coefficient of viscosity, F is the drag force.

Core Practical

W = Upthrust + Drag
V = 4/3 * pi * r^3
Dsphere * V sphere * g = Dfluid * V fluid * g + 6 * pi * eta * velocity * radius

V = (2(Dsphere – Dfluid)gr^2)/(9 * eta)