Fluid Mechanics (21 MEC403)

Module Wise Question Bank

Module 1 (Introduction and fluid statics)
1. Explain any 4 properties of fluids with formula and units. 8 marks
2. Define the following term with SI units - i) Weight density ii) Specific gravity iii)
Dynamic viscosity 6
marks
3. Define capillarity & Derive an expression for capillary rise. 8 marks
4. Define capillarity & Derive an expression for capillary fall. 8 marks
5. Define surface tension and derive expression for surface tension of a hollow bubble/liquid
droplet/jet. 6 marks
6. Calculate the kinematic viscosity of oil, which is used for lubrication between a square
plate of size 0.7m*0.7m and an inclined plane with angle of 30° as shown in figure. The
weight of the square plate is 350N & it slides down the inclined plane with a uniform velocity
of 0.25m/s. The thickness of oil film is 1.5mm.

7. Classification of fluids with stress strain diagram in relation to Newton’s law of viscosity.
8. State and prove Pascal’s law.
9. The dynamic viscosity of an oil used for lubrication between a shaft and sleeve is 6 poise.
The shaft is of diameter 0.4m and rotates at 190 rpm, calculate the power lost in the bearing
for a sleeve length of 90 mm. The thickness of the film is 1.5mm.
10. Two large plate surfaces are 2.4 cm apart. The space between the surfaces is filled with
glycerine. What force is required to drag a very this plate of 0.5 m2 area between two large
plate surfaces at a speed of 0.6 m/s if, (a) thin plate is in the middle of the two plate
surfaces, (b) the thin plate is at a distance of 0.8 cm from one plate surface. Take dynamic
viscosity of glycerine as 8.1 poise.
11. Calculate the capillary rise/fall in a glass tube of 2.5 mm in diameter when immersed in
water and mercury. Take surface tension of water as 0.0725 N/m and for mercury is 0.52
N/m. The specific gravity of mercury is 13.6 and angle of contact is 1300.
12. Define i) Buoyancy ii) Metacentre iii) Metacentric height

Module 2 Fluid Kinematics and Dynamics

1. Explain Types of fluid flow with suitable relations. 6/8/10 marks
2. Derive expression for continuity equation in three-dimensions in cartesian coordinate. 10
3. Write a Short Note on Velocity potential function and stream function. 4/6 marks
4. Define rate of flow and explain the principle of continuity equation. 5 marks
5. Differentiate between of define the following
i) steady and unsteady flow
ii) Viscous and turbulent flow
iii) Uniform and non-uniform flow
iv) compressible and incompressible flow
v) rotational and irrotational flow 10 marks
6. The Velocity vector in a fluid flow is given by V = 4x3i -10x2yj + 2tk. Find the velocity and
acceleration of a fluid particle at (2,1, 3) at time t =2.
7. A differential manometer is connected at the two points A and B of two pipes as shown in
fig. The pipe A contains a liquid of S=1.5 while pipe B contains a liquid of S=0.9. The
pressures at A and B are 1kgf/cm2 and 1.8kgf/cm2 respectively. Find the difference in
mercury level in the differential manometer.

8. The stream function for a two – dimensional flow is given by Ψ = 8xy. Calculate the
velocity at point P (4, 5). Also find the velocity potential function Φ at P (4, 5).
9. Derive Bernoulli’s equation from Euler’s equation of motion. State the assumptions made.
10
10. The water is flowing through a pipe having diameters 20 cm and 10 cm at sections 1 and
2 respectively. The rate of flow through the pipe is 35 litres/s. The section 1 is 6 m above
datum and section 2 is 4 m above datum. If the pressure at section 1 is 39.24 N/cm2, find the
intensity of pressure at section 2.
11. Define the terms - i) local acceleration ii) convective acceleration iii) total acceleration
6 marks

Module 3 Laminar and turbulent flow

1. Derive Hagen-Poiseuille Equation for laminar flow through a circular pipe. 10 marks
2. Derive Darcy-Weisbach equation for loss of head due to friction in pipes. 10 marks

3. Explain the concept of major and minor losses in pipes. 4/5 marks

4. Define Reynold’s number. What is its significance? List the characteristics of laminar
flow. 6 marks

5. Derive an expression for loss of head due to sudden enlargement/contraction of pipe. 8

marks

6. Prove that velocity distribution the cross section of a circular pipe during viscous fluid
flow is parabolic in nature. Also prove that maximum velocity is in the centre of the pipe.
8/10 marks

7. The rate of flow of water through a horizontal pipe is 0.25 m3/s. The diameter of the pipe
which is 200 mm is suddenly enlarged to 400 mm. The pressure intensity in the smaller pipe
is 11.772 N/cm2. Determine (a) loss of head due to sudden enlargement, (b) pressure intensity
in the large pipe, (c) power lost due to enlargement.
8. A horizontal pipe line 40 m long is connected to a water tank at one end and discharges
freely into the atmosphere at the other end. For the first 25 m of its length from the tank, the
pipe is 150 mm diameter and its diameter is suddenly enlarged to 300 mm. The height of the
water level in the tank is 8 m above the center of the pipe. Considering all losses of head
which occur, determine the rate of flow. Take f=0.01 for both sections of the pipe.

9. A pipeline carrying oil of specific gravity 0.87, changes in diameter from 200mm diameter
at a position A to 500mm diameter at a position B. Pipe is laid in a slope of1 in 4 from A to
B. If the pressure at A and B are 9.81 N/cm2 and 5.886 N/cm2 respectively and the discharge
is 200 litres/s, determine the loss of head and direction of flow, given that length of the pipe
is 16m.

Module 4 (Dimensional analysis and flow over bodies)

1. Explain the principle of dimensional homogeneity with examples. 6 marks

2. Explain Concept of Similitudes and types of Similarities. 8 marks

3. Explain Rayleigh's method of dimensional analysis. 6 marks

4. State and explain Buckingham π-theorem. 8 marks

5. Using Buckingham π-theorem, Express the functional relationship between resisting force
and the independent variables if the resisting force ‘F’ of a supersonic plane dunning flight
can be considered as dependent upon the length of aircraft ‘l’, velocity ‘v’, air viscosity ‘μ’,
air density ‘ρ’ and bulk modulus of air ‘K’.

6. Using Buckingham π-theorem, Show that the velocity of fluid flow through a circular
orifice is given by V=)Φ, ], where H is the head of fluid flow, D is the diameter of the orifice,
g is the gravitational acceleration, μ is the dynamic viscosity of the fluid and ρ is the density
of the fluid.

7. Explain the concept of boundary layer separation with a neat sketch. 6/8 marks

8. Derive an expression for lift and drag. 8 marks

9. A man weighing 90 kgf descends to the ground from an airplane with the help of a
parachute against the resistance of air. The velocity with which the parachute, which is
hemispherical in shape, comes down in 20m/s. Find the diameter of the parachute. Assume
CD=0.5 and density of air as 1.25 kg/m3.

10. Experiments were conducted in a wind tunnel with a wind speed of 50 km/hr on a flat
plate of size 2 m long and 1 m wide. The density of air is 1.15 kg/m3. The coefficients of lift
and drag are 0.75 and 0.15 respectively, determine (a) the lift force (b) the drag force (c) the
resultant force (d) direction of resultant force and (e) power exerted by air on the plate.

11. Explain i) laminar boundary layer ii) turbulent boundary iii) laminar sublayer iv)
boundary layer thickness v) displacement thickness 10 marks

Module 5 Compressible Flows and CFD)

1. Derive an expression for speed of sound for adiabatic process. 10 marks

2. Define Mach number, Subsonic flow, Sonic flow, Supersonic flow. 8 marks

3. A projectile travels in air of pressure 10.1043 N/cm2 at 10°C at a speed of 1500 km/hr. find
the Mach number and the Mach angle. Take k=1.4 and R = 287 J/kg K

4. List out the Advantages, Limitations & Applications of CFD. 6 marks

5. Define stagnation point and derive an expression for stagnation temperature. 6 marks
6. Explain the necessity of CFD and applications of CFD. 4/5/6
marks

7. Find the velocity of air flowing at the outlet of a nozzle, fitted to a large vessel which
contains air at a pressure of 294.3 N/cm2(abs.) and at a temperature of 20°C. The pressure at
the outlet of the nozzle is 206 N/cm2 (abs). Take k=1.4 and R = 287 J/kg°K

8. An airplane is flying at a height of 15 km where the temperature is -50°C. The speed of the
plane is corresponding to Mach No M=2.0. Assuming k=1.4 and R=287 J/kg°K, find the
speed of the airplane and the Mach angle.

9. Explain Propagation of pressure waves (or disturbances) in a compressible fluid. 8 marks

10. Define i) Mach cone ii) Zone of action iii) zone of silence 6 marks

Please Note:

Similar Numerical Problems can be referred and included from “A Textbook on Fluid
Mechanics” by Dr. R.K. Bansal, Laxmi Publications.