Experimental Methods and Measurements Homework

Tarun K. Chandrayadula IIT Madras

1. Two skaters each of mass m and speed v approach each other along straight parallel
lines. A distance r separates their lines of approach. At closest approach they catch
each other’s hands and begin rotating around their common center of mass. Use the
Rayleigh’s algorithm to determine how their frequency f of rotation depends upon
these variables.

2. An object of mass m movies in a circle of radius r with speed v. Use the Rayleigh
algorithm to determine an expression for its acceleration a.

3. Consider the assumption that the normal walking speed v of a biped or quadruped
is a function of the length l of its leg (considered as a physical pendulum) and the
acceleration of gravity g.

• Show that the mass of the animal’s leg cannot enter into a dimensionless product
with v, l, and g.

• Show the one dimensionless product composed of these variables is the walking
v2
Fruode number gl

• How do the walking velocity and the length scale with respect to each other ?

4. A metal ball falls at steady speed in a large tank containing a viscous liquid. The ball
falls so slowly that it is known that the inertia forces may be ignored in the equation

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 of motion compared with the viscous forces. (5 points)

(a) Perform a dimensional analysis of this problem, with the aim of relating the speed
of fall V , to the diameter of the ball D, the mass density of the ball ρb , the mass
density of the liquid ρl , and any other variables which play a role. Note that the
”effective weight” of the ball is proportional to (ρb - ρl )g.

(b) Suppose that an iron ball (sp. gr.=7.9, D=0.3 cm) falls through a certain viscous
liquid (sp. gr. = 1.5) at a certain steady-state speed. What would be the diameter
of an aluminum ball (sp. gr. = 2.7) which would fall through the same liquid at
the same speed assuming inertial forces are negligible in both flows?

5. Your job is to design a large pipe of cross-sectional area A and length l that transports
motor oil. the flow rate has to be maintained at Q units, the pressure gradient is ∆p,
the viscosity of oil µ, mass density ρ, and area A You come up with a design and desire
to do a scaled down model test. For that your colleagues think it is enough to maintain
A1/2
only a geometric similitude . Is this the correct criteria to use ? Would you agree
l
or not agree ? Give reasons. If you disagree, express the scaling relationship that is
appropriate.

6. Capillary waves are small surface waves or ripples whose dominant restoring force is
surface tension. Suppose a liquid is indefinitely deep and the amplitude of a capillary
wave is so small as to play no role in its behavior. Then its wave speed v can depend
only on wavelength λ, surface tension σ, acceleration of gravity g, and, possibly, the
mass density ρ of the liquid. Use dimensional analysis to determine an expression for
the velocity of capillary waves (3 points).

7. A fluid of density ρ and viscosity µ flows through a long pipe of diameter D at the
volume flow rate Q. Answer the following (5 points).

(a) Demonstrate that if the flow is laminar (i.e., totally steady) and fully developed
(the velocity profile and the pressure gradient no longer change with downstream
distance x), the pressure gradient in the direction of flow must have the form

dp Qµ
= −K 4 (1)
dx D

(b) Demonstrate that if the flow is turbulent (i.e., unsteady) but steady and fully
developed in the mean, the mean pressure gradient in the direction of flow must
have the form

ρQ2
   
dp ρQ
= .f (2)
dx D5 µD