If the viscosity of a fluid is doubled, what happens to the flow rate through a
Practice Questions
Q1
If the viscosity of a fluid is doubled, what happens to the flow rate through a constant diameter pipe?
Doubles
Halves
Remains the same
Increases fourfold
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
If the viscosity of a fluid is doubled, what happens to the flow rate through a constant diameter pipe?
Step 1: Understand what viscosity is. Viscosity is a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow. Higher viscosity means the fluid is thicker and flows less easily.
Step 2: Recognize that flow rate is how much fluid passes through a pipe in a certain amount of time.
Step 3: Know that when the viscosity of a fluid increases (in this case, it is doubled), it becomes harder for the fluid to flow.
Step 4: Since the pipe's diameter is constant, the only factor affecting the flow rate is the viscosity.
Step 5: Realize that if the viscosity is doubled, the flow rate will decrease because the fluid is thicker and flows less easily.
Step 6: Conclude that if viscosity is doubled, the flow rate through the pipe is halved.
Viscosity and Flow Rate Relationship – The relationship between viscosity and flow rate in a pipe is described by Poiseuille's law, which states that flow rate is inversely proportional to viscosity for a given pipe diameter.