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Tutorial 9

The document presents a tutorial with questions related to fluid dynamics and the motion of a Purcell swimmer, including calculations of displacement and enclosed area in hinge angle space. It also discusses the dynamics of a spherical particle settling in a viscous fluid and the motion of liquid in a pipe when opened. Key concepts include Stokes' law, internal degrees of freedom, and dimensionless equations in fluid motion.

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2 views2 pages

Tutorial 9

The document presents a tutorial with questions related to fluid dynamics and the motion of a Purcell swimmer, including calculations of displacement and enclosed area in hinge angle space. It also discusses the dynamics of a spherical particle settling in a viscous fluid and the motion of liquid in a pipe when opened. Key concepts include Stokes' law, internal degrees of freedom, and dimensionless equations in fluid motion.

Uploaded by

bb1240816
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Tutorial 9

CLL231B

Question 1: A Purcell swimmer consists of three rigid rods of equal length 𝐿connected by two hinges. The
configuration of the swimmer is described by the hinge angles 𝜃! (𝑡)and 𝜃" (𝑡). The swimmer operates in a
fluid at very low Reynolds number, where the motion is governed by the Stokes equations.

During one swimming cycle, the swimmer performs the following sequence of shape changes:

(20∘ , 20∘ ) → (40∘ , 20∘ ) → (40∘ , 40∘ ) → (20∘ , 40∘ ) → (20∘ , 20∘ )

Experiments show that the net displacement per cycle is proportional to the area enclosed in the
(𝜃! , 𝜃" )plane:

Δ𝑥 = 𝑘𝐴

where 𝐴 is the enclosed area (in rad2) and 𝑘 = 0.02𝐿.

(a) Sketch the physical configuraGon of the swimmer corresponding to the four verGces of the cycle.

(b) How many internal degrees of freedom does the swimmer have?

(c) Calculate the area enclosed by the cycle in the (𝜃! , 𝜃" ) plane.

(d) Calculate the net displacement per cycle of the swimmer.

(e) If the swimmer performs the same cycle in the reverse order, what happens to the displacement?

Question 2: A small spherical particle of radius 𝑎 = 1 𝜇𝑚is suspended in water. The particle has density 𝜌$ =
1050 𝑘𝑔 𝑚%& , while the density of water is 𝜌' = 1000 𝑘𝑔 𝑚%& . The dynamic viscosity of water is 𝜇 =
10%& 𝑃𝑎 𝑠.

The drag force on a sphere moving slowly through a viscous fluid is given by Stokes’ law:

𝐹 = 6𝜋𝜇𝑎𝑈

Questions

(a) Write the expression for the net force acting on the particle when it settles under gravity in the fluid.

(b) Determine the terminal settling velocity of the particle.

Question 3: A liquid is contained in a pipe that is closed at one end as shown in Fig. Initially the liquid is at
rest, but if the end is suddenly opened the liquid starts to move. Assume the pressure 𝑝! remains constant.
The differential equation that describes the resulting motion of the liquid is
∂𝑣( 𝑝! ∂" 𝑣 1 ∂𝑣
𝜌 = + 𝜇 D "( + 𝑟 ( F
∂𝑡 ℓ ∂𝑟 ∂𝑟

where 𝑣( is the velocity at any radial location 𝑟, and 𝑡 is time.

(a) Rewrite this equation in dimensionless form using the liquid density 𝜌, the viscosity 𝜇, and the pipe
radius 𝑅 as reference parameters.
(b) Briefly explain the physical meaning of the characterisGc Gme scale used in the nondimensionalizaGon.

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