Viscosity plays an important role in determining whether a moving fluid remains…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Mechanical Properties of Fluids · Mechanical Properties of Fluids
Problem
Viscosity plays an important role in determining whether a moving fluid remains orderly or becomes chaotic.
(i) Explain qualitatively how the viscosity of a fluid influences the critical speed for the onset of turbulence in a given pipe.
(ii) Water and glycerine are made to flow through identical horizontal pipes at equal average speeds. Which fluid is more likely to maintain streamline motion? Give reasons in terms of their relative viscosities.
(iii) How would doubling the temperature of the glycerine (assume its viscosity drops appreciably) affect the likelihood of turbulence at the same flow speed? Explain briefly.