Download Flow of liquid through a tube

The flow of liquid through a tube
The rate at which fluid flows through a tube is likely to depend on
(a)
the viscosity of the fluid,
(b)
the dimensions of the tube, and
(c)
the pressure difference between its ends.
This flow rate is of great importance in our lives since it governs things like the flow of blood
round our bodies and the transmission of gas, water or oil through long distances in pipelines.
The proof of the relationship was first produced by Poiseuille in 1844 using dimensional analysis
(a different proof based on the mechanics of fluids is available, but is outside the scope of this
work at this level). Consider a fluid of viscosity  flowing through a tube of length L and radius r
due to a pressure difference p between its ends (Figure 1).
p
Fluid in
Figure 1
2r
Fluid out
L
The formula for the rate of flow of fluid down the tube is:
Volume per second (V) = r4p/8L
This formula only applies to laminar flow, not to turbulent motion. It is interesting that warmblooded animals regulate the heat loss from their bodies by changing the diameter of their blood
vessels (varying r) and hence controlling the rate of blood flow.
A simple proof of this formula using dimensional analysis is given below:
Assume that the volume V passing through the tube per second is given by the equation:
V = kxrypz/L
where the quantity p/L is called the pressure gradient down the tube. Using dimensional
analysis this gives x = -1, y = 4 and z = 1.
Therefore the volume per second is:
Volume per second = kr4p/L
The value of k can be shown to be /8 and therefore:
Volume per second = r4p/8L
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Example
Calculate the pressure difference between the two ends of a hosepipe 20 m long and of radius 0.5 cm if
the rate of flow of water through it is 0.8 litres per second. (Viscosity of water 1x10 -3 Pa s.)
Pressure difference = [0.8 x 10-3 x 8 x 10-3 x 20]/(0.5x10-2)4
=6.5 x 104 Pa
Measurement of the viscosity of a liquid
The apparatus shown in Figure 2
may be used to determine the
viscosity of a liquid such as water.
The water flows from a constant
head apparatus through a horizontal
capillary tube and is then collected
by a beaker; the time for a given
volume to be collected is measured.
The pressure difference between the
two ends of the capillary tube is hg
where  is the density of the liquid.
The internal diameter of the capillary
tube is measured with a travelling
microscope.
Figure 2
h
It is important that the temperature of the water is measured and that the water only drips from
the free end of the tube, since in the rigorous proof of the formula the water is assumed to have
no residual kinetic energy. Laminar flow must also be assumed.
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