Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the concept of inviscid flow and its implications for shear stress in fluid dynamics, particularly in the context of calculating drag on a sphere immersed in water. Participants explore the relationship between Reynolds number and the assumption of negligible shear stress.
Discussion Character
- Technical explanation
- Debate/contested
- Mathematical reasoning
Main Points Raised
- One participant suggests that a Reynolds number of 10^5 is sufficient to treat the fluid as inviscid, questioning if this implies shear stress can be neglected.
- Another participant emphasizes the need to define "inviscid" and argues that a high Reynolds number does not automatically allow for ignoring shear stress, pointing out the importance of the object under consideration.
- A participant describes the specific scenario of a sphere in water and references the drag calculation formula, noting the lack of information on shear stress and suggesting that it might be negligible due to the high Reynolds number.
- One reply cautions that while inviscid flow can be assumed, it may not be accurate without knowing the viscosity or the specific fluid properties.
- A later post reiterates that "inviscid" means non-viscous flow, implying that shear stresses are minimal and can be neglected, aligning with the initial query about the assumptions made at high Reynolds numbers.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express differing views on whether a high Reynolds number allows for the assumption of negligible shear stress. There is no consensus on the accuracy of treating the flow as inviscid in this context.
Contextual Notes
Participants highlight the importance of defining terms and the specific conditions of the fluid and object involved, indicating that assumptions may depend on additional factors such as viscosity and flow characteristics.