Fluid Dynamics and Stokes Law

2015 EdExcel A Level Physics
Topic 4
Fluid dynamics and

Stokes’ Law
Laminar Flow vs Turbulent
Flow
Fluid mechanics
9/17/2018
Laminar Flow vs Turbulent Flow
Laminar flow (seen here) is

when “adjacent layers of a fluid
do not cross over each other”.
Turbulent flow is when

“layers of fluid cross over
each other”. This can
happen when the rate of
flow reaches a critical level
(or, obviously, when
obstacles are put in the
way…).
17/09/2018
Laminar Flow vs Turbulent Flow
Laminar flow (seen here) is

when “adjacent layers of a fluid
do not cross over each other”.
Turbulent flow is when

“layers of fluid cross over
each other”. This can
happen when the rate of
flow reaches a critical level
(or, obviously, when
obstacles are put in the
way…).
17/09/2018
Stokes’ Law
When a sphere moves through a liquid the movement of
the liquid relative to the sphere is laminar. This can be
expressed mathematically……
Consider a sphere of radius r moving with a

velocity v relative to a fluid with viscosity η:
Viscous drag Fd = 6πηrv
This is called Stokes’ Law, after

Viscous
me. It ONLY works for spheres drag
moving at low speeds (i.e.
laminar flow)
Example
Calculate the drag force on a sphere of radius 5 cm an it is
travelling in a liquid having viscosity 2.2x10-3 N s m-2 with a
velocity 25 ms-1.
17/09/2018
Example
Calculate the drag force on a sphere of radius 5 cm an it is
travelling in a liquid having viscosity 2.2x10-3 N s m-2 with a
velocity 25 ms-1.
Solution:
r=0.05 m
v= 25 ms-1
η= 2.2x10-3 Nsm-2
Viscous drag F = 6πηrv
By putting in the values
F = 6 x 3.14 x 2.2x10-3 x 0.05 x 25=51.81x10-3 N
17/09/2018
Terminal Velocity
When vehicles and free-falling objects
first move they have much more force
accelerating them than resistance
which is trying to slow them
Body
As speed increases resistance builds released Forces on
up – gradually reducing the resultant from body during Forces on
force and so the acceleration also rest acceleration body at
reduces terminal
velocity
Eventually the resistance forces are
equal to the accelerating force and the
object remains at a constant speed
(terminal velocity).
Terminal Velocity
Forces acting on a skydiver
Weight, W=mg
Upthrust, U
Viscous drag, Fv
Fv
U At terminal velocity the
resultant force ƩF=0
ƩF = 0 = W – (U + Fv)
W a= ƩF/m = 0
acceleration is zero!
17/09/2018
Terminal Velocity in a liquid
Consider a ball falling through a liquid:
Some questions to consider:
1) What forces are acting on the

ball?
2) How do those forces change
when the ball gets faster?
3) Will the ball keep getting
faster? Explain your answer
in terms of forces
17/09/2018
Terminal Velocity
What forces are acting on the ball?
Some facts about the sphere falling through a fluid:
1) The weight, obviously, stays constant Upthrust Viscous

U drag F
2) Upthrust = weight of fluid displaced, so
that stays constant after the sphere
becomes totally immersed Weight
W
3) Viscous drag is proportional to velocity
so it increases as the ball gets faster
Clearly, terminal velocity is reached when the following condition is met:
ƩF= 0 = W – (U + F) W=U+F
17/09/2018
Free body force diagrams
Draw free body force diagrams and write a
force equation for the following objects:
1) A ball bearing with a density just less

than water floating on its surface:
2) A more dense ball bearing

accelerating through a liquid:
3) The same ball bearing later

when it has reached terminal
velocity:
17/09/2018
Free body force diagrams
Draw free body force diagrams and write a
force equation for the following objects:
1) A ball bearing with low density

that’s accelerating towards the surface:
2) The same ball bearing when it

has reached terminal velocity
while rising:
3) The same ball bearing later

when it has reached the surface:
17/09/2018
Core Practical 4 - Viscosity
The viscosity of a fluid can be defined as its “resistance to flow”,
i.e. a viscous fluid is one that would be thick and sticky (like
syrup).
Comparing viscosities
The viscosity of different fluids

can be compared by using a
viscometer or by dropping a
ball bearing through the liquid:
17/09/2018
Example
A steel ball-bearing of mass 2.6x10-4kg and radius 4.0mm is allowed to fall
through water until it reaches terminal velocity. Calculate this terminal
velocity if the viscosity of water is 2.2x10-3 N s m-2.
Solution:
m= 2.6x10-4kg
r= 4.0mm= 4x10-3m
upthrust drag force
η= 2.2x10-3 Nsm-2
v=?
Drag Force:
F = 6πηrv
By putting values
F = 6 x 3.14 x 2.2x10-3 x 4x10-3 x v=1.66 x10-4 v Newton
weight
Example cont.
𝑢𝑝𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑡
𝑢𝑝𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑡 = 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑥 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑥𝑔
4 3
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑑 = 𝜋𝑟
3
4
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑑 = 𝑥3.14𝑥(4𝑥10−3 )3 = 2.717𝑥10−8 𝑚3
3
𝑢𝑝𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑡 = 1000 𝑥2.717𝑥10 𝑥 9.8 = 2.66𝑥10−4 𝑁
−8
Weight of ball
𝑤 = 𝑚𝑔
𝑤 = 2.6 x10−4𝑥9.8 = 2.548x10−3𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑠-2
terminal velocity is reached when the following condition is met:
W=U+F
2.548x10−3 = 2.66𝑥10−4 + 1.66 x10−4 𝑣
2.282x10−3 = 1.66 x10−4 𝑣
v=13.75𝑚𝑠-1
Practice Questions
1) A steel ball-bearing of mass 1.1x10-4kg and radius 1.8mm is

allowed to fall through water until it reaches terminal velocity.
Calculate this terminal velocity if the viscosity of water is 1.1x10-3
N s m-2.
2) A ball of density 8000 kgm-3 and radius 1.2mm is allowed to fall

through water until it reaches terminal velocity. Calculate this
terminal velocity if the viscosity of water is 1.1x10-3 N s m-2.
17/09/2018

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2015 EdExcel A Level Physics

Fluid dynamics and

Laminar flow (seen here) is

Turbulent flow is when

Laminar flow (seen here) is

Turbulent flow is when

Consider a sphere of radius r moving with a

Viscous drag Fd = 6πηrv

This is called Stokes’ Law, after

Some questions to consider:

1) What forces are acting on the

1) The weight, obviously, stays constant Upthrust Viscous

Clearly, terminal velocity is reached when the following condition is met:

1) A ball bearing with a density just less

2) A more dense ball bearing

3) The same ball bearing later

1) A ball bearing with low density

2) The same ball bearing when it

3) The same ball bearing later

The viscosity of different fluids

1) A steel ball-bearing of mass 1.1x10-4kg and radius 1.8mm is

2) A ball of density 8000 kgm-3 and radius 1.2mm is allowed to fall

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