Fluid dynamics: Reynolds Number, Drag Constant

AI Thread Summary
In the discussion about fluid dynamics, two main queries were raised regarding the Reynolds number and drag constant. The first question addressed why the Reynolds number from part a cannot be directly substituted with a different velocity to calculate viscosity, highlighting that velocity's role in the drag equation complicates this approach. The second query focused on how to derive the Reynolds number from the drag constant, with suggestions to use graphical methods or interpolation from tables. It was noted that variations in the drag constant would result in different Reynolds numbers, confirming that the values cannot be reused from previous calculations. Understanding these relationships is crucial for accurate calculations in fluid dynamics.
AwfulPhysicist
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I completed 4a successfully, and with 4b, i have 2 queries:
a)why can't I let Reynolds # equal to 2.19 x 10^5 (from part a) then simply sub v=4 instead of 5m/s and rearrange for viscosity? I tried it this way first and got a very wrong answer. Why do we, essentially, need to work backwards to get the dynamic viscosity?
b)How do they find the reynolds number from the drag constant? I know they used the table but how?

Below is proof of my workings, and i have screen shotted the question and the answer workings as well.


Relevant equations are

F (drag)= drag constant (Cd) x pi/4 x d^2 x density fluid x velocity^2 x 1/2

Reynolds number= (density of fluid x diameter of spehere x velocity)/viscosity

F (drag) = Weight- Buoyancy
= pi/6 x d^3 x gravity x (density of sphere-density of fluid)


kinematic viscosity= dynamic viscoity/ density
 

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AwfulPhysicist said:
I completed 4a successfully, and with 4b, i have 2 queries:
a)why can't I let Reynolds # equal to 2.19 x 10^5 (from part a) then simply sub v=4 instead of 5m/s and rearrange for viscosity?
I tried it this way first and got a very wrong answer. Why do we, essentially, need to work backwards to get the dynamic viscosity?

Because the velocity also appears in the ##\rho v^2/2## term. So here, it does not appear in combination with the dynamic viscosity.
b)How do they find the reynolds number from the drag constant? I know they used the table but how?

You either plot the relationship on a graph, and use the graph (preferrably a log-log plot) to get the reynolds number, or you interpolate (preferrably logarithmically) in the table.

Chet
 
Thanks Chet, I also realized that Reynolds number will not be the same due to a variation in the drag constant. So we cannot use the same Reynolds number as the first part
 
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