Examples

𝐶𝐷 𝜌𝑉 2 𝐴
1.1 The force, F, of the wind blowing against a building is given by 𝐹 = where V
,
2
is the wind speed, the density of the air, A the cross-sectional area of the building,
and CD is a constant termed the drag coefficient. Determine the dimensions of the
drag coefficient.
𝐶𝐷 𝜌𝑉 2 𝐴
𝐹=
2
𝑚
𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑔 = kg × 2 = 𝑀𝐿𝑇 −2
𝑠
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑘𝑔
𝜌= = 3 = 𝑀𝐿−3
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑚
𝑚
𝑉= = 𝐿𝑇 −1
𝑠

𝐴 = 𝑚2 = 𝐿2
𝑀𝐿𝑇 −2
𝐶𝐷 = = 𝑀0 𝐿0 𝑇 0
(𝑀𝐿−3 )(𝐿𝑇 −1 )(𝐿2 )

Hence, 𝐶𝐷 is dimensionless.
1.44 Determine the mass of air in a 2 m3 tank if the air is at room temperature, 20 °C, and the absolute
pressure within the tank is 200 kPa.
Solution
𝑚 = 𝜌∀
𝑝 𝑜
𝑁
𝜌= 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑇 = 20 𝐶 = 20 + 273 𝐾 = 293 𝐾 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝 = 200 𝑘𝑝𝑎 = 200000 2
𝑅𝑇 𝑚
Thus,
𝑝 200000
𝜌= = = 2.38 𝑘𝑔/𝑚2
𝑅𝑇 (0.002869)(293)
Hence,
𝑚 = 𝜌∀= 2.38 × 2 = 4.76 𝑘𝑔
1.55 For flowing water, what is the magnitude of the velocity gradient needed to produce a shear stress of 1.0
N/m2?
Solution
𝑑𝑢 𝑁. 𝑠
𝜏=𝜇 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝜇 = 1.12 × 10−3 2
𝑑𝑦 𝑚
Thus
𝑁
𝑑𝑢 𝜏 1.0 2 1
= = 𝑚 = 893
𝑑𝑦 𝜇 1.12 × 10−3 𝑁. 𝑠 𝑠
𝑚2
1.74 For a parallel plate arrangement of the type shown in Figure it is found that when the distance between
plates is 2 mm, a shearing stress of 150 Pa develops at the upper plate when it is pulled at a velocity of 1
m/s. Determine the viscosity of the fluid between the plates. Express your answer in SI units.
Solution
𝑑𝑢
𝜏=𝜇
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑢 𝑈
=
𝑑𝑦 𝑏
𝜏 150 𝑁. 𝑠
𝜇= = = 0.300 2
𝑈 1 𝑚
( )
𝑏 0.002
1.77 The sled shown in Figure slides along on a thin horizontal layer of water between the ice and the
runners. The horizontal force that the water puts on the runners is equal to 1.2 Ib when the sled’s speed is
50 ft/s. The total area of both runners in contact with the water is 0.08 ft2, and the viscosity of the water is
3.5 × 10-5 Ib . s / ft2. Determine the thickness of the water layer under the runners. Assume a linear
velocity distribution in the water layer.
Solution
𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 = 𝜏 × 𝐴
𝑑𝑢 ∀
𝜏=𝜇 =𝜇 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑑 = 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑟
𝑑𝑦 𝑑
Thus,
𝑑𝑢
𝐹=𝜇 𝐴
𝑑𝑦
𝜇∀𝐴 (3.5 × 10−5 )(50)(0.08)
∴𝑑= = = 11.7 × 10−4 ft
𝐹 1.2
1.81 A layer of water flows down an inclined fixed surface with the velocity profile shown in Figure.
Determine the magnitude and direction of the shearing stress that the water exerts on the fixed surface for
U = 2 m/s and h = 0.1 m.
Solution
𝑑𝑢
𝜏=𝜇
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑢 2 𝑦2
=𝑈 − 2
𝑑𝑦 ℎ ℎ
Thus, at the fixed surface (y = 0)
𝑑𝑢 2𝑈
=
𝑑𝑦 𝑦=0 ℎ
2𝑈 2
So that 𝜏=𝜇 = 1.12 × 10−3 2
ℎ 0.1
𝑁
= 4.48 × 10−2 acting in direction of flow
𝑚2
Example: Viscosity of water is 0.01 poise. Find its kinematics viscosity if specific gravity is 0.998.
𝜌 𝜌 𝑘𝑔
𝑆. 𝐺 = = 0.998 = → 𝜌 = 988 3
𝜌𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 1000 𝑚
−1
s 1 𝑁. 𝑠 𝑁. 𝑠
1 Poise = 10 N. 2 = 2
→ 𝜇 = 0.001 2
𝑚 10 𝑚 𝑚
𝜇 0.001 −6
𝑚2
𝑣= = = 1 × 10
𝜌 988 𝑠

Example: A Plate at a distance 0.0254 mm from a fixed plate moves at 0.61m/s and requires a force of
1.962N/m2 area of plate. Determine dynamic viscosity of liquid between the plates.
𝑉
𝜏𝑦𝑥 = 𝝁
𝐿
𝜏𝑦𝑥 𝐿 1.962 × (0.0254 × 10−3 ) −5
𝑁. 𝑠
𝝁= = = 8.17 × 10
𝑉 0.61 𝑚2