Since there were a few students who were absent from class on Thursday, March 31st, and Friday, April 1st, the 11th and 12th grade Physics class finished section 17B. We had been discussing some basic properties of fluid mechanics in section 17A butt 17B presents fluids now in motion (hydrodynamics). For this we use ideal fluids as they flow through a flow tube. Pay careful attention to how they flow: laminar or turbulent. The Equation of Flow Continuity helps explain the flow of fluids through a flow tube as demonstrated by Mr. Anderson on the following Bozeman Science video:
Bernouilli's Principle demonstrates the conservation of energy as it flows from one point through another. This equation accounts for the pressure, potential energy, and the kinetic energy. This second video by Mr. Anderson and Bozeman Science will demonstrate this principle and equation.
Now we come to the last few segments of section 17B dealing with the flow of fluids, mainly gas in this instance, that provide lift for an airfoil. Basically we're talking about the mechanics of an airplane wing and how the plane is able to fly due to what is known as the Coanda Effect. The following video will demonstrate how the Coanda Effect and Newton's 3rd Law, for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction, work together to achieve lift.
In closing, the viscosity, or the measure of the resistance of a fluid to flow, will ultimately determine how freely a fluid will actually flow. We see fluid mechanics used today in wind turbines, for example. These are built tall enough to expose their blades to the smother winds rather than the more turbulent winds closer to the ground. In turn wind energy is converted into mechanical energy with an efficiency of up to 50%!! Cars are also manufactured with aerodynamics in mind to allow fluids (air) to flow over the car to help with fuel efficiency.
If you have any questions concerning this section, please be sure to ask me in class. There is a quiz scheduled over 17B for Wednesday, April 6th, and the test will be Thursday, April 7th.
(Videos are courtesy of YouTube)
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