Improve Your Understanding of Viscosity with This Helpful Homework Guide

  • Thread starter Thread starter darkmagic
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Viscosity
AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on understanding viscosity through a specific homework problem that involves fluid velocity and shear stress. Participants emphasize that the velocity varies linearly between surfaces, allowing for straightforward calculations of the velocity profile in two fluid sections. For part A, users suggest using known dimensions and velocities to determine where fluid velocity is zero. In part B, the shear stress equation is highlighted as essential for calculating stress at the plate's top and bottom, which can then be used to find force by multiplying by the plate area. This guidance aims to clarify the concepts of viscosity and fluid dynamics for students.
darkmagic
Messages
164
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Help with the viscosity.
The problem is in the attachment.
My prof does not yet teach the lesson but we have to answer the problem.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 

Attachments

  • problem.jpg
    problem.jpg
    31 KB · Views: 434
Physics news on Phys.org


please help me
 


I think you are just thinking too hard to be honest. You know that there is no slip on the surfaces. Therefore, you know the fluid velocity at each of the surfaces and you know that it just varies linearly from one surface to the next.

It should be straightforward from that point to answer part A since you know all the dimensions on the problem and the necessary velocities. The fluid is divided into two sections (above and below the plate) and you have enough information to get the velocity profile in both sections with minimal work. You can use those profiles to easily solve for the heights where the fluid velocity is zero (there are two such points)

For part B, you just use the equation for shear stress:
\tau = -\mu \frac{\partial u}{\partial y}
That will give you a stress (you need one for the top and bottom of the plate) that you can multiply by the plate area to get force.
 
Back
Top