Viscosity, Stokes’ law, terminal velocity

  1. Viscosity is a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow, caused by internal friction between fluid layers.
  2. Fluids with higher viscosity flow more slowly, while those with lower viscosity flow more freely.
  3. The SI unit of viscosity is the pascal-second (Pa·s), and the CGS unit is the poise.
  4. Newtonian fluids obey Newton’s law of viscosity, where shear stress is directly proportional to the rate of shear strain.
  5. Non-Newtonian fluids do not follow Newton’s law of viscosity; examples include ketchup and blood.
  6. Stokes’ Law describes the viscous force experienced by a spherical object moving through a fluid.
  7. The formula for Stokes’ Law is: F = 6πrηv, where:
    • F is the viscous force.
    • r is the radius of the spherical object.
    • η is the coefficient of viscosity of the fluid.
    • v is the velocity of the object.
  8. Terminal velocity is the constant velocity attained by an object when the net force acting on it becomes zero.
  9. The terminal velocity of a spherical object falling through a viscous fluid is given by: vt = (2r²(ρobject − ρfluid)g) / (9η).
  10. The factors affecting terminal velocity include the radius of the object, the density difference between the object and the fluid, and the fluid's viscosity.
  11. Viscous drag opposes the motion of an object through a fluid, playing a key role in determining terminal velocity.
  12. Objects with smaller radii or higher fluid viscosities experience lower terminal velocities.
  13. Viscosity decreases with an increase in temperature for liquids but increases for gases.
  14. Poiseuille’s equation describes the flow of viscous fluids in pipes and is crucial for understanding fluid dynamics.
  15. The coefficient of viscosity is affected by intermolecular forces and temperature.
  16. Fluids like honey and glycerin have high viscosity, while water and alcohol have low viscosity.
  17. The study of viscosity is crucial in industries like lubrication, paint, and pharmaceuticals.
  18. In rain, terminal velocity prevents raindrops from falling at dangerously high speeds.
  19. Stokes’ law is used in designing sedimentation tanks and determining particle sizes in colloids.
  20. Surface tension is the property of a liquid's surface that minimizes its surface area, caused by cohesive forces between molecules.
  21. The SI unit of surface tension is newton per meter (N/m).
  22. Surface tension is responsible for phenomena like the formation of droplets and the ability of insects to walk on water.
  23. Surface energy is the work done to increase the surface area of a liquid.
  24. Factors affecting surface tension include temperature and impurities.
  25. Surface tension decreases with an increase in temperature because of reduced cohesive forces.
  26. Capillarity is the rise or fall of a liquid in a narrow tube due to surface tension.
  27. Examples of capillarity include the upward movement of water in plants and oil in a lamp wick.
  28. The angle of contact between the liquid and the surface determines the behavior of capillarity.
  29. Detergents and soaps reduce surface tension, aiding in cleaning by allowing water to spread more easily.
  30. Liquids with higher surface tension, like mercury, form spherical droplets due to strong cohesive forces.
  31. Applications of surface tension include the design of liquid sprays, inkjet printing, and medical diagnostics.
  32. The concepts of viscosity and surface tension are interrelated in understanding fluid behavior at surfaces and interfaces.
  33. Viscosity and terminal velocity are critical in studying sedimentation and particle motion in fluids.
  34. Understanding Stokes’ law aids in predicting the settling of particles in suspensions.
  35. High-viscosity fluids like lava flow more slowly, while low-viscosity fluids like water flow rapidly.
  36. Terminal velocity is essential in designing parachutes and understanding free-fall dynamics.
  37. Viscosity and Stokes’ law are applied in rheology, the study of the flow of matter.
  38. Industries like cosmetics and food rely on controlling viscosity for product consistency.
  39. The balance of gravitational, viscous, and buoyant forces determines terminal velocity.
  40. Viscous force reduces the motion of objects in fluids, essential for drag reduction in vehicles.
  41. Surface tension explains the spherical shape of soap bubbles and liquid drops.
  42. Understanding viscosity and surface tension is vital for advancements in nanotechnology and materials science.
  43. The interplay of Stokes’ law and terminal velocity explains sedimentation processes in geology and oceanography.
  44. Analyzing fluid flow with viscosity and surface tension improves engineering designs for pumps and pipelines.