Physical Sciences 2: Lecture 9b November 10, 2015

Lecture 9b: Low Reynolds Number Flows

Learning objectives: After this lecture, you will be able to:

1. Qualitatively and quantitatively explain the meaning of viscosity.

2. Understand the qualitative differences between high Reynolds number flows and low
Reynolds number flows and the role viscosity plays in both.
3. Explain and use Newton’s law of viscosity.
4. Explain that in low Reynolds number flows the force applied to a fluid is used to
overcome viscous forces, not to accelerate the fluid
5. Appreciate that low Reynolds number flows are reversible and that small organisms
swim differently than we do!
6. To use the Stokes equation and explain that it tells us the drag force on a sphere in a
low Re flow.
7. To use the Poiseuille equation and explain how it relates the velocity v of a laminar
flow inside a pipe to the pressure drop.

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Physical Sciences 2: Lecture 9b November 10, 2015

2
 Pressure drives air flow in the lungs
Bernoulli’s equation is a direct result of the
Physical Sciences 2: Lecture 9b November 10, 2015
work-kinetic energy theorem
• Consider change in pressure in the fluid when the flow diameter and

• Why does air flow in and out of your lungs?

the height of the fluid change?
• Assume incompressible flow (r=constant)

Example: Venturi effect

Work done on fluid by surrounding fluid:
• Inhale:
Example: Venturi effect Work done by gravity:

Activity 1: Venturi effect Change in KE:

• Which pressure is lower,

The continuity equation 𝑄 = 𝐴! 𝑣! = 𝐴! 𝑣!  tell us the speed of a fluid increases when it
Conservation of mass:

• Which
enters a smaller cross sectional
P orpressure
area2A.
P1?
What is lower,
about pressure?
Giovanni
Venturi
• Continuity: (1746-1822)
P 2 or P1?velocity in a fluid flow. Example: Venturi effect
Venturi effect relates the pressure and
• Exhale:
A tremendous number•of fluidContinuity:
• Which pressure is lower,
flow applications can be P2 or P1?
• Continuity:
Giovanni
Venturi
(1746-1822)

explained with the Venturi effect.

We will see a few demonstrations of the Venturi effect. Bernoulli: Bernoulli:

• Related to:
– flutter in arteries

• Related to:
– snoring
– woodwinds

– flutter in arteries
– snoring
1. Let’s first apply the continuity equation to blood flow in our body:
– woodwinds
Bernoulli: 10

(a) Consider (incompressible) steady flow of blood in an artery of radius R

that slipts into two smaller arteries of radius 0.75R. What is the average
velocity of the blood in• theRelated to:
smaller arteries? 1.5R%

– flutter inPressure
arteriesdrives blood flow through vessels
2R%

– snoring What makes blood flow through blood vessels? 1.5R%

– woodwinds
(b) Blood flows slowly in capillaries
(1mm/sec). What can you
conclude about the cross
sectional area of ALL
Continuity equation

capillaries, as compared to Airflow"

the aorta?

2. Which pressure in the Venturi tube do you think is lower? P2 or P1? Hint: The continuity
equation might also be useful here

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 Physical Sciences 2: Lecture 9b November 10, 2015

3. In order to ventilate their burrows, Prairie dogs build burrows with ends at two different
heights. Why do they have different heights? Which way does the wind flow inside the
burrows?

with Bernoulli
Demo: Give an explanation why the beach ball is in a ‘stable’ equilibrium (when
it moves from the center, a restoring force pushes it back in place)

on a solid object in a flow?

hat near a solid surface there is
ayer where the relative flow
 condition)
lls: Fastballs, curve balls, tennis
Demo: The Magnus effect:
Airflow"
kicks Can you use the Venturi effect to explain why a baseball can curve?

How about lift with airplanes? Can this be explain with the same principle we have been
discussing? (venturing effect?)

4
Physical Sciences 2: Lecture 9b November 10, 2015

Another
Summary: Highinterpretation
Reynolds of theflows
Reynolds number:
Applied force, viscous force, resulting acceleration
Background: Laminar versus turbulent
• Newton’s  2 law applied nd
Making a fluid flow:
to a fluid Osborne
Reynolds
(1842-
- Body force (e.g. gravity) m ass x acceleration F
• Qualitatively, fluid
1912)
- Forces normal to surface (pressure) V
- Forces tangential to surface (shear) TODAY!!! l
motions come into two
Forces (pressure)
acting on fluid
Surrounding fluid
resists motion:
Qualitatively, two types of flow:
types cause motion viscosity ( )

- Laminar: smooth adjacent “lamina or sheets”

– Laminar:
- Turbulent flow: irregular, chaotic motions Regular flow
Reynolds number 𝑹𝒆 = 𝝆𝒗𝒍 with motion
𝜼  characterizes a flow:of smooth
“lamina”  or  sheets
- Dynamic similarity: same Re -> same flow characteristics
Reynolds # emphasizes inter-relation of size, speed, viscosity
– Turbulent:
Conservation of mass leads to continuity equation
𝑣 𝐴 =  𝑣 𝐴 for incompressible
! ! ! !   flows Irregular,
fluctuating, chaotic
Bernoulli equation relates P, v, and h in a high Re number flow.
!
1
𝑝 + 𝜌𝑣 + 𝜌𝑔ℎ
2
!
!
motions
=Another
! 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡  −→ conservation  of  energy/Volume
interpretation of the Reynolds number:
Note: All turbulent flows are High Re butapplied force,
not all High viscous
Re number flowsforce, resulting
are turbulent acceleration

• Consider a small piece of fluid (length l) subject to an applied force that

accelerates it to velocity v. Show that the Reynolds number is the ratio
of (mass acceleration) to viscous forces

5
Physical Sciences 2: Lecture 9b November 10, 2015

Am I getting it?
A fluid is moving from left to right in the Venturi tube shown below.

1. At which point is the pressure lowest?

a) Point 1
b) Point 2
c) Point 3

2. At which point is the acceleration of the fluid maximum?

a) Point 1
b) Between point 1 and point 2
c) Point 2
d) Between point 2 and point 3
e) Point 3

3. There is a steady 15 mph wind parallel

to the ground, traveling from the back to
the front of the house (ignore the presence
of trees).

At which point is the pressure lowest?

a) Back of the house

b) Above the house (rooftop)
c) Front of the house

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Physical Sciences 2: Lecture 9b November 10, 2015

Today: Why care about low Re flows?

Low Reynolds numbers flows: today’s topic
DEMO: Tank%1% Tank%2%

Two tanks are filled with a fluid of unknown viscosity.

• Reynolds
Tank 1 is drained through an number=
opening of area A, while Cross%Sec2onal%% Cross%Sec2onal%%
tank 2 is drained through 16 smaller openings with total %%%%%%Area%=%A" %%%%%%Areatotal%=%2A"
area 2A.
Which tank will empty first? 1%hole% 16%holes%

• Conditions for low Re flow:

𝐼𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙  𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑠
𝑅𝑒 =   =  𝜌𝑣𝑙 𝜂
𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑠  𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑠

- Conditions for low Re flow

• Contrast with high Re flows

- Conditions for high Re flow

Reference: H. Berg, Random Walks in Biology;;  see  also  “Motile  

Behavior  of  Bacteria”  in  Physics Today (2001)

Today’s goals with respect to Low Re number flows:

1. Understand what viscosity means and how it affects fluid motion

(a) Newton’s law of viscosity relates shear stress 𝝉  to fluid velocity v
(b) Viscous drag arises because layers of fluid must slide past one another in a flow
(c) Viscosity 𝜼  is the parameter that quantifies this “friction”

2. Understand the qualitative and quantitative features of low Reynolds number flows

(a) In low Reynolds number flows the force applied to a fluid is used to overcome
viscous forces, not to accelerate the fluid
(b) Low Reynolds number flows are reversible: small organisms swim differently than
we do!
(c) The Stokes equation tells us the drag force on a sphere in a low Re flow. This has
applications to sedimentation and separation
(d) The Poiseuille equation relates the velocity v of a laminar flow inside a pipe to the
pressure drop. This has applications to blood flow.

7
pplications to blood flow.

Physical Sciences 2: Lecture 9b November 10, 2015

Activity 2: introduction to Newton’s law of viscosity

Newton’s law of viscosity: It tells us how much force we need to make a viscous fluid flow
ty tells us how much
! ! ! !
a viscous !fluid
𝜏 = = 𝜂
!
, flow
where: 𝜏 =
!
= Shear Stress,
!
= Shear Rate.

Shear a fluid between parallel plates

Force or shear stress 𝜏 required to slide top plate at speed V
allel

quired
V
In a Newtonian fluid, 𝜂 is independent of v (we’ll see about that in a minute)
𝜂!"# ≈ 2𝑥10!!  𝑃𝑎 ∙ 𝑠
 
1. Can you check the dimensions of viscosity? Write your result in terms of Pa

2. Water is trapped between two surfaces (see figure). For the stationary lower surface, what is
the force on a small patch of area 1cm2?

Moving%plate%

V=%10%cm/sec%

1%cm% 1%cm%
1%cm%
Sta2onary%plate%
3. When paddling a canoe upstream, it is
wisest to travel as near to the shore as possible. When canoeing downstream, it may be best to
stay near the middle. Explain why.

2
8
 11
11/16/2

Physical Sciences 2: Lecture 9b November 10, 2015

Activity Qualitative features of low Re flows: demo

3: Demos/videos
Qualitative features
and video of low Re flows: demo 11/16/2010
Qualitative
Qualitative features
and video features
of low ofRe
lowflows:
Re flows
demo
1) Demo:
and
Using the video
Reynolds mixing ink
number to model
1) Demo: flows:
in a viscous
mixing ink fluid
Qualitative features
in a viscous of low Re flows: demo G.I. Taylor
1) Demo: fluid 1886-1975
and video G.I. Taylor
mixing ink 1886-1975
in a viscous
1) Demo:
fluidink
mixing 2) Video: from
in a viscous a movie by G.I. Taylor
fluid G.I. Taylor 1886-1975
2) Video: from
G.I. Taylor
a movie by 1886-1975
G.I. Taylor

2)Video:
2) Video:
fromfrom
a movie
a movie by by
G.I. Taylor
G.I. Taylor

Low Re flows are reversible: small

organisms swim differently than we do

Low Re flows are reversible: small

organisms
Low Re flows swim
are reversible: differently
small organisms than we do than we do!
swim differently

Low Re flows are reversible: small

organisms swim differently than we do

Low Re flows are reversible: small

organisms swim differently than we do

9
 Moving%plate%
Physical Sciences 2: Lecture 9b November 10, 2015
V=%10%cm/sec%
We will deal with two types of low Re flows:
Activity 4
External and internal
Two types of low
Translation Re flows: (1) external
of an object Flow throughand
a pipe(2) internal
1%cm% 1%cm%
External%flow% Internal%flow%
1%cm%
Sta;onary%plate% Fluid ( )
R Flow R

Fluid ( )
What force is needed to drag i) What is the velocity
Flow%through%a%pipe%
Transla;on%of%an%object%%
the sphere at steady speed v? distribution in the pipe?
% %
#%What%force%is%needed%to%drag%the%% ii) What pressure is needed to
#%What%is%the%velocity%distribu;on%
%%%sphere%at"steady"speed"v?% pump fluid through a pipe of
%%%in%the%pipe?%
% radius R and length L?
#%What%pressure%is%needed%to%pump%fluid%%
iii) What flow rate
%%%through%a%pipe%of%radius%R%and%length%L"
11
%
% (volume/time) occurs?
#%%What%flow%rate%(volume/;me)%occurs?%
% %
%%%Stokes"equa9on" %%%%Poiseuille"equa9on"
%
%
1. The Stokes equation for 𝐹!"#$ depends on 𝜼  (𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦), Radius R, and speed v.
4
(a) The dependence of 𝐹!"#$ on v is proportional or inversely proportional?

(b) The dependence of 𝐹!"!" on R is proportional or inversely proportional?

(c) The dependence of 𝐹!"#$ on 𝜂 is proportional or inversely proportional?

2. The Poiseuille equation for the flow rate 𝑸 depends on 𝜼  (𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦), 𝚫𝑷 (pressure difference
driving the flow), Radius R, and length of pipe l.

(a) The dependence of 𝑄 on 𝜂 is proportional or inversely proportional?

(b) The dependence of 𝑄 on R is proportional or inversely proportional?

(c) The dependence of 𝑄 on Δ𝑃 is proportional or inversely proportional?

(d) The dependence of 𝑄 on l is proportional or inversely proportional?

10
 Physical Sciences 2: Lecture 9b November 10, 2015
Internal flows:Internal
Poiseuille flow in tubes
flows: Poiseuille flow in tubes
External flows:Activity
The Stokes 5A: Stokes
equation and
gives the dragPoiseuille equations
force on a sphere at low Re
Important
Translation of a sphere for homes, Important for homes,
! !!
Jean-Louis-
Jean-Louis-
Stokes equation: 𝐹 = 6𝜋𝜂𝑣𝑅 chemical plants, Poiseuille equation: 𝑄 = 𝑅 ! Marie

Radius R, speed chemical plants, respiration, blood flow,

!"#$ Marie Poiseuille
v ! !" Poiseuille(1799-
respiration, blood flow, water transport in plants, Parabolic flow profile (1799- 1869)

Viscous shear stress water on the transport

surface in plants,
oil  recovery,  …. Parabolic flow profile 1869)

oil  recovery,  …. Important parameters

(Poiseuille flow)
Important parametersAverage velocity and
V%%%
Drag force (Poiseuille flow) Fdrag" flow rate
%

Pressure drop
Average velocity and
Pipe diameter, length
flow rate
Fluid viscosity
Pressure drop
Stokes drag on a sphere has been an important aspect of at least Flow ratePrizes This is important for homes, chemical power plants,
THREE Nobel
(1923,  1926  and  1926):  1)  Millikan’s  oil  drop  experiment,  2)  Perrin’s  experiments  on   respiration, blood flow, water transport in plants, oil
Pipe diameter, length
Brownian  motion,  3)  Svedberg’s  study  of  protein  separation  using  an  ultracentrifuge.
recovery, etc…
Remember that Fluid
we areviscosityin the low Re number regime (viscous dominated) with laminar flow.
Flow rate
Example problem: Sedimentation of cells
1. Draw the streamlines for the case of low and high Reynolds flow for a fluid going through a
pipe (guess the shape of the streamlines): Higher velocity = streamlines are closer together
Sphere of radius R and
density s in a fluid of
density assume s> Low%Re%flow%(high%viscosity)% High%Re%flow%(low#viscosity)%
How fast does the sphere
sediment?

www.bilbate.co.uk

Pin" Pin#Pout%>%0% Pout" Pin" Pin#Pout%>%0% Pout"

2. Draw the streamlines for the case of low and high Reynolds flow for a solid sphere moving
through a fluid at speed v (guess the shape of the streamlines): Higher velocity = streamlines are
closer together
Low%Re%flow%(high%viscosity)% High%Re%flow%(low#viscosity)%

V"""""" v" V%%%% V"""""" v" 5 V%%%%

11
Physical Sciences 2: Lecture 9b November 10, 2015

Activity 5B: Stokes and Poiseuille equations

1. Application of Poiseuille equation:

Today you saw a demonstration of Poiseuille’s Law in which water flowed out of an open tank
through a long narrow tube. As shown in the diagram, the water level in the tank is h = 10 cm
above the opening at the bottom of the tank, the cylindrical tube has a length of L = 1 m and an
interior radius of R = 1 mm, and the tube is a height of H = 1 m above the ground:
The Poiseuille equation relates the flow rate to the
pressure drop in a laminar flow
Inner radius of tube
h = 10 cm water Physical idea:
is R =pressure
1 mm
difference needed
L = 1 m to push
fluid through a tube;
overcome friction at walls
Flow rate vs pressure H
drop
=1m g
Derivation: force balance
on a region of fluid d
floor

a) What is the flow rate Q in the cylindrical tube? (Water has a density ρ = 103 kg·m–3 and a
viscosity η = 10–3 kg·m–1·s–1.)

b) If you replaced the water with a more viscous fluid, the distance d would (circle one):
increase remain the same decrease

Example problem: Arterial disease

A blood vessel develops plaque
deposits
2. A blood vessel develops plaque deposits that
that reduce
reduce the radius
the radius by (a small) 10%.
How much does the volumetric flowby 10%.
rate How much of
Q (volume/time) does thechange as a
blood
result? volumetric flow rate
*I dare you to go eat a high cholesterol lunch after calculating
(volume/time) this
of blood change
as a result?

12
 Drag force
Physical Sciences 2: Lecture 9b November 10, 2015

Activity 5B: Stokes and Poiseuille equations

Stokes
3. Application of Stokes drag on a sphere has been an important aspect of at least THREE Nobel Prizes
equation:
(1923,  1926  and  1926):  1)  Millikan’s  oil  drop  experiment,  2)  Perrin’s  experiments  on  
Brownian  motion,  3)  Svedberg’s  study  of  protein  separation  using  an  ultracentrifuge.
Model red blood cells as spheres of radius R with density 𝜌!"##
in a fluid of density 𝜌. The red blood cells are falling so assume
𝜌!"## > 𝜌.

(a) Do you expect the red blood cells to fall at terminal velocity, or
do you expect them to accelerate downward? This is important.
Explain. Example problem: Sedimentation of cells
Sphere of radius R and
density s in a fluid of
density assume s>
How fast does the sphere
sediment?
(b) Calculate how fast the red blood cells are falling.
Hint 1: draw FBD
Hint 2: is buoyancy important?
www.bilbate.co.uk
Hint 3: Model red blood cells as spheres with Vsphere

13
Physical Sciences 2: Lecture 9b November 10, 2015

One-Minute Paper

Your name: _________________________________ TF: _____________________________

Names of your group members: _________________________________

_________________________________

• Please tell us any questions that came up for you today during lecture. Write “nothing”
if no questions(s) came up for you in class from 9:30am–11am.

• What single topic left you most confused after today’s class?

• Any other comments or reflections on today’s class?

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