Student Name: _________________ ID#_________________

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 2O04

Fluid Mechanics -Test #1
DAY CLASS
Duration 50 minutes D.R. Latulippe
McMaster University Term Test Thursday February 13th, 2014

The test includes 3 questions + 1 bonus question in six pages; ensure your copy of the test is
complete.
Marks for each problem are given (Total of 30 marks).

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
1. McMaster calculator only (and case with unit conversions) is permitted.
2. Only tests written in PEN will be considered if re-marking is requested (addition errors excepted).
3. The class textbook (Pritchard’s Fox & McDonald) and any notes are allowed.
4. ALL problems must be solved and this test paper must be returned with your test booklet.

QUESTION 1 - 8 MARKS Answer the following short questions in the space provided:
a. Based on the plot of shear stress vs shear rate for the three
Newtonian fluids shown below, which of the following
expressions correctly describes their viscosity values?
(1 mark)

µ A > µ B > µC
µ A = µ B = µC
µ A < µ B < µC

b. Using a reference value of water at 4 oC, calculate the

specific gravity of a fluid with a density of 760 kg/m3.
(1 mark)

c. How does the (absolute) viscosity of a GAS change with

increasing temperature?
(1 mark)

d. Write the correct equation that relates gauge pressure and

absolute pressure?
(1 mark)

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e. A small diameter tube open at both ends is lowered vertically
into a liquid. If the contact angle (θ) is greater than 90o, the
liquid level in the tube will:
RISE or DROP
(1 mark)

f. What is the surface tension (mN/m) of water at 20 oC?

(1 mark)

If a drop of water at 20 oC is placed on a polypropylene sheet

(critical surface tension = 29 mN/m), describe the wetting
phenomenon that occurs.
(1 mark)

g. The continuity equation is based on the conservation of

________________.
(1 mark)

QUESTION 2 - 11 MARKS

As shown in the accompanying figure, a manometer filled with tetrabromoethane (SG = 2.95) is attached
to the side of an air tank to allow for an easy visual observation of the pressure inside the tank.
Note that the diameters of the two “legs” of the manometer are the exact same and that the right “leg” is
open to the atmosphere.

When the tank is evacuated and thus at atmospheric pressure (101 325 Pa), the level of the liquid in both
legs of the manometer is at the dashed line that is shown in the figure.
Relief
Valve

1.3 m

2m
AIR TANK 0.01 m

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a) Using the simple figure to the right,

indicate the relative positions of the
liquid levels in the two “legs” as the
pressure in the air tank becomes
greater than atmospheric pressure.
(1 mark)

b) The desired gauge pressure in the air tank is 7.6 psi. What is the corresponding absolute pressure
in the air tank in Pa units?
(2 marks)

c) At what height above the dashed line should a mark be made on the right “leg” of the manometer
to tell the operators that the air tank is at the desired pressure of 7.6 psi-g?
(4 marks)

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d) A pressure relief valve is to be installed at the top of the tank. The valve will automatically open
and release the air inside the tank when the pressure inside exceeds a value specified by the valve
manufacturer. This will prevent the unfortunate scenario where the tank gets over-pressurized and
thus the tetrabromoethane fluid would get pushed out the end of the manometer.
Given the information in part b) and the choice of a relief valve set for 7.0, 10.5, or 14.0 psi-g,
which one would you choose? Why?
(4 marks)

QUESTION 3 - 11 MARKS

Oil (SG = 0.76) is flowing into the tank shown below with an average velocity of 4 m/s through the 50
mm diameter pipe at A. It flows out of the tank at an average velocity of 2 m/s through the 20 mm
diameter pipe at B.

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a) Selecting the control volume to include the entire tank contents, write the general form of the
mass balance equation for the oil in the tank.
(3 marks)

b) Calculate the volumetric flow rate (m3/s) of oil that is entering via the pipe at A.
(3 marks)

c) Simplify the expression in part a) to determine the numerical value for the rate at which the level
(h) of oil in the tank is changing.
(5 marks)

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BONUS QUESTION – 3 MARKS

In class, I showed you the following schematic of a conical tank as one example of a system with varying
cross-sectional area.

The volume of liquid in the cone is given by:

1
V = πr 2 h
3

Derive the correct expression for the

accumulation term in the mass balance
dm
equation such that it is expressed solely
dt
as a function of the height of liquid in the tank.

THE END

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