Tutorial

4 Fluid
1.

One method used to find the viscosity of a liquid is to measure the terminal velocity of a solid
spherical object falling through it.
In such an experiment the following data are provided:
weight of sphere
radius of sphere
volume of sphere
density of liquid
(a)

= 4.8 103 N
= 2.5 103 m
= 6.5 108 m3
= 1300 kg m3

Show that the upthrust is about 8 104 N.

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(2)

(b)

The terminal velocity is found to be 4.6 102 m s1. Use this value to show that the
viscosity of the liquid is about 2 kg m1 s1.
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(3)

(c)

The students carrying out this experiment wish to repeat it on another day using the same
equipment. State another relevant variable that needs to be controlled to make this a fair
test.
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(1)
(Total 6 marks)

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2.

A childs birthday balloon is filled with helium to make it rise. A ribbon is tied to it, holding a
small plastic mass designed to prevent the balloon from floating away.

Plastic mass

(a)

Add labelled arrows to the diagram of the balloon to show the forces acting on the
balloon.
(2)

(b)

The balloon is approximately a sphere, of diameter 30 cm. Show that the upthrust on the
balloon is about 0.2 N.
The density of the surrounding air = 1.30 kg m3
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(3)

(c)

The ribbon is cut and the balloon begins to rise slowly.

(i)

Sketch a diagram to show the airflow around the balloon as it rises.

(1)

(ii)

What is the name of this type of airflow?

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(1)

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(d)

A student suggests that if the balloon reaches terminal velocity, its motion could be
described by the relationship
mg + 6r =

4 3
r g
3

where = viscosity of air, m = mass of the balloon, r = radius of the balloon and v = the
terminal velocity reached.

(i)

Write the above relationship as a word equation.

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(1)

(ii)

The balloon has a total weight of 0.17 N. Use the equation given above to calculate
the corresponding value for the terminal velocity of the balloon.
Viscosity of air = 1.8 105 N s m2
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Terminal velocity = .........................................................
(3)

(iii)

Suggest a reason why the balloon is not likely to reach this calculated velocity.
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(1)
(Total 12 marks)

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3.

A hot air balloon consists of an envelope containing hot air, with a wicker basket suspended
from it. The balloon flies because the heated air in the envelope is less dense than the
surrounding air.

(a)

The total volume of the hot air balloon is 2830 m3. The total weight of the balloon,
including the hot air in the envelope, is 33 100 N. The density of the surrounding air is
1.20 kg m3.
(i)

Show that the resultant upward force on the balloon at the moment it is released is
about 200 N.
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(3)

(ii)

Calculate the initial upward acceleration of the balloon. The mass of the balloon is
3370 kg.
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Acceleration = .............................................
(2)

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(iii)

The balloon is rising through air of viscosity 1.8 105 kg m1 s1, at a speed of
2.0 m s1.
The effect of viscous drag on the balloon is negligible provided the air flow
around the balloon is laminar.
Justify the statement in bold with the aid of a calculation. You may treat the whole
balloon as a single sphere of radius 8.8 m.
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(3)

(b)

Add labelled arrows to the diagram below to show the forces acting on a vertically
ascending balloon.

(2)

(c)

As the balloon rises the density of the surrounding air decreases. Explain why this density
change limits the height to which the balloon will rise.
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(2)
(Total 12 marks)

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4.

A science centre houses a display with tall, transparent tubes of different liquids. Visitors can
pump air into the bottom of the tubes to create bubbles that rise to the top at different steady
speeds.
(a)

(i)

Add labelled arrows to the diagram to show the other two forces acting on a bubble
as it rises through a liquid.

(2)

(ii)

With reference to the forces on the bubble, explain why the bubble initially
accelerates and then reaches a steady upwards speed.
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(4)

(iii)

Write an expression which relates these forces for a bubble moving at a steady
upwards speed.
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(1)

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(b)

If the weight of the air in the bubble is ignored, the steady upwards speed is given by

2 pr 2 g
9

Where is the density of liquid, r is the radius of the sphere and is the coefficient of
viscosity of the liquid.

(i)

Explain why it is reasonable to ignore the weight of the air.

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(2)

(ii)

Explain what happens to the speeds of the observed bubbles if the temperature of
the liquid increases.
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(2)

(iii)

It is possible to create a small bubble followed by a larger bubble.

Use the expression to explain why the larger bubble catches up with the smaller
one.
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(1)
(Total 12 marks)

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5.

After wine has been fermenting it contains many small particles. These particles are allowed to
settle so that they can be separated from the liquid.
Add labelled arrows to this diagram showing the other two forces on a particle falling
downwards within the wine.

Upthrust

(2)

The upthrust can be calculated using the expression U 43 r 3 w g where w is the density of
wine and r is the radius of the falling particle.
Explain how the above expression for upthrust is derived.
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(2)

Write down the equation relating the three forces acting on the particle when it reaches terminal
velocity.
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(1)

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Show that the terminal velocity v of a particle of density s is given by the following expression:
v

2r 2 g ( s w )
9

where is the viscosity of the wine.

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(2)

Explain how you would expect the velocity of this particle to change if the temperature of the
wine was increased.
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(2)

Stokess law is valid only provided the flow is laminar. Using a diagram, explain what is meant
by the term laminar flow.

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(2)
(Total 11 marks)

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6.

The diagram shows a sky diver.

Sketch the airflow around the sky diver on the diagram.

(1)

Add three labelled arrows to the diagram to identify the forces acting on the sky diver.
(2)

What is the relationship between these forces when the sky diver is falling with terminal
velocity?
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(1)

For some falling objects it is possible to use Stokes law to help estimate the terminal velocity.
State why this would not be appropriate for this sky diver.
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(1)

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Show that the upthrust force is about 4 N.

Volume of sky diver = 0.35 m3.
Density of surrounding air = 1.2 kg m3 (i.e. 1 m3 of air has a mass of 1.20 kg).
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(3)

Comment on the size of this force and its effect on the sky divers terminal velocity.
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(2)

The sky diver slows her descent by opening her parachute. Give one word which describes the
airflow after the parachute has opened.
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(1)
(Total 11 marks)

7.

A sign at a railway station advises passengers to keep back from the platform edge. This is
because passing trains may cause turbulence.

Explain what is meant by turbulent flow, and suggest why it is dangerous for passengers to
stand near the edge of the platform.
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(Total 3 marks)

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8.

A skydiver accelerates towards the ground at 9.81 m s2 at the instant that he leaves the
aeroplane.
(a)

Explain why his acceleration will decrease as he continues to fall.

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(2)

(b)

The skydiver opens his parachute. Explain why he reaches a terminal velocity shortly
afterwards.
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(2)

(c)

The velocity at which he then hits the ground is similar to that achieved when falling
freely from a height of 3 m. Calculate this velocity.

Velocity = ................................
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

9.

A raindrop has a radius of 0.70 mm. It is falling at terminal velocity through air.
(a)

Show that the mass of the raindrop is approximately 1 106 kg.

Density of water = 1000 kg m3.
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(2)

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(b)

Ignoring any upthrust on the raindrop, calculate its terminal velocity.

Viscosity of air = 8.90 104 kg m1 s1.

Terminal velocity = ..................................................

(2)
(Total 4 marks)

10.

A one-person spherical submarine called Explorer is used for underwater exploration.

EXPLORER SPHERICAL SUBMARINE

Diameter: 1.60 m
Mass of empty submarine: 2000 kg
Maximum mass of contents including water in buoyancy tanks: 110 kg
BUOYANCY

Buoyancy tanks can be flooded with sea water and emptied by

compressed air.
VIEWING

Thick acrylic viewports provide visibility.

Young modulus of acrylic is 3.0 109 Pa.
Use the information given above to answer the questions below.
Calculate the weight of the submarine when carrying maximum load.
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Weight = ........................................................
(1)

The submarine is at rest just above the seabed.

(i)

State the magnitude of the upthrust on the submarine.

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(ii)

Give a reason for your answer.

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(2)

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The weight of the submarine is adjusted so that it rises with a constant velocity of 0.5 m s1.
(i)

How would this change in weight of the submarine be achieved?

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(ii)

Calculate the viscous force on the submarine using Stokes Law. Viscosity of water =
1.2 103 kg m1 s1.
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Viscous drag force = ..............................................

(iii)

The actual viscous drag force will be much greater. Suggest why.
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(4)

At the operating depth, the pressure of water causes a stress on the viewports of 1.1 106 Pa.
Calculate the strain which would result from this stress.
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(2)
(Total 9 marks)

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