ME 2113
Fluid Mechanics I
Introduction
Viscosity
1. Problem (W-1.43/M-1.38)
What shear stress is required to move the upper plate at V = 5.5 m/s if the fluid is glycerin at 20°C
and the width between plates is 6 mm,? What is the flow Reynolds number if L is taken to be the
distance between plates?
2. Problem
Cylinder A of mass 2.5 kg sliding concentrically downward a pipe of diameter 74 mm with an oil
film in between with coefficient of viscosity 7 × 10−3 N.s/m2. Determine the cylinder’s terminal
speed (final constant speed). Neglect the effects of air pressure and assume a linear velocity profile
in the oil film.
3. Problem (W-1.50/M-1.45)
A block of weight W slides down an inclined plane on a thin film of oil. The film contact area is
A and its thickness h. Assuming a linear velocity distribution in the film, derive an analytic
expression for the terminal velocity V of the block. Find the terminal velocity of the block if the
block mass is 6 kg, A = 35 cm2,𝜃 = 15° and the film is 1 mm thick SAE 30 oil at 20℃.
4. Problem (WM-1.47)
A shaft 6.0 cm in diameter and 40 cm long is pulled steadily at V = 0.4 m/s through a sleeve 6.02
cm in diameter. The clearance is filled with oil, 𝜈 = 0.003 𝑚2 /𝑠 and SG = 0.88. Estimate the
force required to pull the shaft.
5. Problem (W-1.57/M-1.52)
The belt in figure moves at steady velocity V and skims the top of a tank of oil of viscosity µ.
Assuming a linear velocity profile, develop a simple formula for the belt-drive power P required
as a function of (h, L, V, b, µ). Neglect air drag. What power P is required if the belt moves at 2.5
m/s over SAE 30W oil at 20C, with L = 2 m, b = 60 cm, and h = 3 cm?
1|Page
6. Problem (W-1.59/M-1.54)
A disk of radius R rotates at angular velocity Ω inside an oil container of viscosity µ, as in figure.
Assuming a linear velocity profile and neglecting shear on the outer disk edges, derive an
expression for the viscous torque on the disk.
7. Problem (W-1.61/M-1.56)
For the cone-plate viscometer in figure, the angle is very small, and the gap is filled with test liquid
µ. Assuming a linear velocity profile, derive a formula for the viscosity µ in terms of the torque
M and cone parameters.
Surface Tension
8. Problem (WM 1.62)
Hydrogen bubbles are quite small, D ≈ 0.01 mm. If the hydrogen-water interface is comparable to
air-water and the water temperature is 30°C, estimate the excess pressure within the bubble.
9. Problem (WM 1.64)
A shower head emits a cylindrical jet of clean 20C water into air. The pressure inside the jet is
approximately 200 Pa greater than the air pressure. Estimate the jet diameter, in mm.
10. Problem (W-1.74/W-165)
The system in figure is used to estimate the pressure p1 in the tank by measuring the 15-cm height
of liquid in the 1 mm diameter tube. The fluid is at 60C. Calculate the true fluid height in
the tube and the percent error due to capillarity if the fluid is (a) water; and (b) mercury.
2|Page
11. Problem (WM-1.67)
A vertical concentric annulus, with outer radius ro and inner radius ri, is lowered into fluid of
surface tension Y and contact angle 𝜃 90. Derive an expression for the capillary rise h in the
annular gap, if the gap is very narrow.
12. Problem (W-1.78/W-169)
A solid cylindrical needle of diameter d, length L, and density 𝜌 may float on a liquid surface.
Neglect buoyancy and assume a contact angle of 0. Calculate the maximum diameter needle able
to float on the surface. Calculate the diameter for a steel needle (SG = 7.84) in water at 20°C.
13. Problem (W-1.79/M-1.70)
Derive an expression for the capillary height change h, for a fluid of surface tension Y and contact
angle 𝜃 between two parallel plates W apart. Evaluate h for water at 20C if W = 0.5 mm.
14. Problem (W-1.80/M-1.71)
A soap bubble of diameter D1 coalesces with another bubble of diameter D2 to form a single bubble
D3 with the same amount of air. For an isothermal process, express D3 as a function of D1, D2, patm
and surface tension Y.
Vapor Pressure
15. Problem (W-1.81/M-1.72)
Early mountaineers boiled water to estimate their altitude. If they reach the top and find that water
boils at 84C, approximately how high is the mountain?
3|Page
16. Problem (W-1.82/M-1.73)
A small submersible moves at velocity V in 20C water at 2 m depth, where ambient pressure is
131 kPa. Its critical cavitation number is known to be Ca ≈ 0.25. At what velocity will cavitation
bubbles begin to form on the body? Will the body cavitate if V = 30 m/s and the water is cold
(5C)?
17. Problem (WM-1.74)
A propeller is tested in a water tunnel at 20C. The lowest pressure on the body can be estimated
by a Bernoulli-type relation, 𝑝𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝑝𝑜 − 𝜌𝑉 2 /2, where 𝑝𝑜 = 1.5 atm and V is the tunnel average
velocity. If V = 18 m/s, will there be cavitation? If so, can we change the water temperature and
avoid cavitation?
18. Problem (W-1.83/M-1.75)
Oil with a vapor pressure of 20 kPa is delivered through a pipeline by equally spaced pumps, each
of which increases the oil pressure by 1.3 MPa. Friction losses in the pipe are 150 Pa per meter of
pipe. What is the maximum possible pump spacing to avoid cavitation of the oil?
4|Page
