Skip to main content
Ch 14: Fluids and Elasticity
Chapter 14, Problem 14

20°C water flows through a 2.0-m-long, 6.0-mm-diameter pipe. What is the maximum flow rate in L/min for which the flow is laminar?

Verified Solution

Video duration:
7m
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Laminar Flow

Laminar flow is a type of fluid motion characterized by smooth, parallel layers of fluid that do not mix. In laminar flow, the fluid moves in an orderly fashion, and the flow is typically stable and predictable. This type of flow occurs at low velocities and is defined by a Reynolds number (Re) less than 2000, which is a dimensionless quantity that helps predict flow patterns in different fluid flow situations.
Recommended video:
Guided course
11:08
Flow Continuity

Reynolds Number

The Reynolds number is a dimensionless value that helps determine the flow regime of a fluid. It is calculated using the formula Re = (ρvD)/μ, where ρ is the fluid density, v is the flow velocity, D is the characteristic length (like pipe diameter), and μ is the dynamic viscosity of the fluid. A Reynolds number below 2000 indicates laminar flow, while values above 4000 suggest turbulent flow, with a transitional range in between.
Recommended video:
Guided course
07:19
Moles & Avogadro's Number

Flow Rate

Flow rate is the volume of fluid that passes through a given surface per unit time, commonly expressed in liters per minute (L/min). It is influenced by factors such as the fluid's velocity, the cross-sectional area of the pipe, and the fluid's viscosity. Understanding flow rate is essential for determining whether the flow remains laminar or transitions to turbulent, as it directly affects the Reynolds number and the behavior of the fluid in the system.
Recommended video:
Guided course
6:34
Fluid Speed & Volume Flow Rate
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Styrofoam has a density of 150 kg/m³ . What is the maximum mass that can hang without sinking from a 50-cm-diameter Styrofoam sphere in water? Assume the volume of the mass is negligible compared to that of the sphere.
1066
views
Textbook Question
In FIGURE CP14.74, a cone of density p₀ and total height l floats in a liquid of density pբ . The height of the cone above the liquid is h. What is the ratio h/l of the exposed height to the total height?

395
views
Textbook Question
A nuclear power plant draws 3.0 x 10⁶ L/min of cooling water from the ocean. If the water is drawn in through two parallel, 3.0-m-diameter pipes, what is the water speed in each pipe?
339
views
Textbook Question
(a) A nonviscous liquid of density p flows at speed v₀ through a horizontal pipe that expands smoothly from diameter d₀ to a larger diameter d₁ . The pressure in the narrower section is p₀. Find an expression for the pressure p₁ in the wider section.
371
views
Textbook Question
A tree loses water to the air by the process of transpiration at the rate of 110 g/h. This water is replaced by the upward flow of sap through vessels in the trunk. If the trunk contains 2000 vessels, each 100 μm in diameter, what is the upward speed in mm/s of the sap in each vessel? The density of tree sap is 1040 kg/m³.
351
views
Textbook Question
An aquarium of length L , width (front to back) W , and depth D is filled to the top with liquid of density p . (b) Find an expression for the force of the liquid on the front window of the aquarium.
422
views