1

Laminar Flow

1. The terminal velocity of small sphere falling in a viscous fluid is

a) Proportional to the diameter of the sphere

b) Inversely proportional to the viscosity of the fluid
c) Inversely proportional to the diameter of the sphere
d) Proportional to the density of the fluid

2. In the figure below, Stokes’s law is valid for region

a) AB (b) BC (c) CD (d) BD

3. A pipe friction test shows that, over the range of speeds used for the test, the non-
dimensional friction factor ‘f’ varies inversely with Reynolds number. From this, one
can conclude that the

a) Fluid must be compressible

b) Fluid must be ideal
c) Pipe must be smooth
d) Flow must be laminar

4. A fully developed laminar viscous flow through a circular tube has the ratio of
maximum velocity to average velocity as

a) 3.0 (b) 2.5 (c) 2.0 (d) 1.5

5. In a laminar flow through a pipe of diameter D, the total discharge Q, is expressed as

(μ is the dynamic viscosity of the fluid and –[dp/dx] is the pressure gradient

−π dP −π dP
(a) D4 (b) D4
128μ dx 64μ dx

−πD4 dP −πD4 dP
(c) (d)
32μ dx 16μ dx
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6. In the case of a falling sphere in a fluid for the stroke’s law to be valid, the

a) Sphere must be metallic

b) Fluid density should be constant
c) Flow around the sphere should be turbulent
d) The Reynolds number based on sphere diameter should be less than unity

7. For fully developed laminar flow through a pipe the volumetric flow is given by
(symbols have the usual meaning)

π dp π dp
(a) R4 (− ) (b) R4 (− )
8μ dz 4μ dz
π dp π dp
(c) R4 (− ) (d) R4 (− )
32μ dz 16μ dz

8. If Laminar flow takes place in two pipes, having relative rough nesses of 0.002 and
0.003, at a Reynolds number of 1815, then

a) The pipe of relative rough ness of 0.003 has a higher friction factor
b) The pipe of relative roughness of 0.003 has a lower friction factor
c) Both pipes have the same friction factor
d) No comparison is possible due to inadequate date

9. For solid spheres falling vertically downward under gravity in viscous fluid, the
terminal velocity, V1 varies with diameter ‘D’ of the sphere as

a) V1 ∝ D1/2 for all diameters

b) V1 ∝ D2 for all diameters
c) V1 ∝ D1/2 for large D and V1 ∝ D2 for small D
d) V1 ∝ D2 for large D and V1 ∝ D1/2 for small D

10. During the measurement of viscosity of air flowing through a pipe, we use the
πd4 dp
relation μ = 128Q (− dz ) under the condition that in the measuring section.

a) There is a viscous zone near the wall and an inviscid core persists at the centre.
b) The entire cross-section is viscous.
c) The flow can be assumed as potential flow.
d) The flow is Irrotational
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Solutions
1. Ans.(b)

∴ Terminal velocity is inversely proportional to the viscosity of the sphere.

2. Ans: (a)

Sol: Stoke’s law valid for finding drag force on a sphere immersed in a fluid and
moving such that Re < 0.1. The region ‘AB’ is valid approximately

3. Ans: (d)
4. Ans: (c)

Sol: A fully developed laminar (Viscous) fluid flow through a circular pipe, the
maximum velocity is equal to two times average velocity.

̅
Vmax = 2. V

Proof: - Velocity . Distribution is parabolic

−1 dp
u= . (R2 − r 2 )
4μ dx

Maximum velocity at r = 0

−1 dp
Vmax =
4μ
(dx ) R2

dq = dA. u

−1 dp
dq = 2πdr. (R2 − r 2 )
4μ dx

Q 2π dp R
∫0 dq = − 4μ . dx ∫0 (R2 . r − r 3 )dr

π −dp
Q=
8μ
.(
dx
) . R4
 4

π −dp
̅=
A. V ( ) R4
8μ dx

π −dp
̅=
πR2 . V ( dx ) R2
8μ

1 −dp
̅=
∴ V ( ) R2
8μ dx

̅ = Vmax ⇒ Vmax = 2: 1
∴ V ̅ 2 V

5. Ans: (a)

Sol: By Hagen Poiseuille formula for drop of pressure for a given length of pipe,
viscous fluid flow is given by [i.e., loss of pressure head for viscous flow through
a circular pipe]
32μ.Vℓ
hf =
ρgD2

P1 −P2 32μ.Vℓ
=
ρg ρg.D2

P1 −P2 32μ.V
=
ℓ D2

Q
−dP 32μ( )
A
=
dx D2

−dP 32μQ
=π
dx D2 .D2
4

−dP 128μ.Q −dP 128μ

= ⇒ =( )Q
dx πD4 dx πD4

−πD4 dP
∴Q= .
128μ dx

6. Ans: (d)

Sol: G.G. Stokes developed a mathematical equation for the total drag force on a
sphere immersed in a flowing fluid for which Reynolds’s number is up to 0.1, so
that inertia forces may be assumed negligible. Viscous forces are much more
important than the inertia forces. Some others say the limit as 1.

Hence option (d)

 5

7. Ans: (a)

Sol: Q = volumetric flow through a pipe of fully developed laminar flow

−πD4 dp
=
128μ dx

π(2R)4 −dp
Q= ( dx )
128μ

π16R4 −dp πR4 −dp

Q= ( dx )⇒Q= ( dx )
128μ 8μ

−dp
The pressure gradient is given as ( )
dz

∴ i.e., along the length of pipe.

8. Ans: (c)

Sol: For laminar flow, friction factor is only function of Reynolds Number (Re <
2000) and independent upon the relative roughness.
1
(f ∝ Re)

9. Ans: (b)

Sol: According to Stokes law, Drag force (FD )

= 3πμDV
4
Self-weight of sphere = (ρsolid × g) × πR3
3

4 D 3
Wself = ρsolid . g × π( )
3 2

π
Wself = ρsolid . g × D3
6

Buoyancy force on immersed sphere

π
= ρViscous Fluid . g × D3
6

For vertically downward motion, for terminal velocity concept: Forces are
balanced
 6

Wself = FB + FD
π π
ρsolid . g D3 = ρViscous fluid . g. D3 + 3πμDV
6 6

π
∴ 3πμDV = (ρsolid − ρfluid )g. D3
6

π
3πμ V = (ρsolid − ρfluid )g. . D2
6

V ∝ D2

And also μV = constant

D2
V∝
μ

10. Ans: (b)

πd4 dp
Sol: μ= (− dz ) is based on Hager Poiseuille formula, which is valid for entire
128Q

cross-section in viscous zone. In viscous zone flow is rotational.

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