EXERCISE 2.

5:

A particle of equivalent volume diameter 0.3 mm, density 2000 kg/m3 and sphericity 0.6
falls freely under gravity in a fluid of density 1.2 kg/m3 and viscosity 2 x10-5 Pas. Estimate
the terminal velocity reached by the particle.

SOLUTION TO EXERCISE 2.5:

In this case we know the particle size and are required to determine its terminal

velocity without knowing which regime is appropriate. The first step is, therefore, to
calculate the dimensionless group C D Re2p :

4x ρf(ρp−ρf)g D p 3 μ2
3
2
C Re =

⎡ ⎤
4 ( 0.3 × 10 −3 )3 × 1. 2 × (2000 − 1. 2) × 9. 81

= ⎢ ⎥
( )
2
3 −5 ⎢ 2×10 ⎥ ⎣⎦

= 2117

SOLUTIONS TO CHAPTER 2 EXERCISES: SINGLE PARTICLES IN FLUIDS

Page 1.5

This is the relationship between drag coefficient CD and single particle Reynolds number
Rep for particles of size 0.3 mm and density 2000 kg/m3 falling in a fluid of density 1.2
kg/m3 and viscosity 2 x 10-5 Pas. Since CD Re2p is a constant, this

relationship will give a straight line of slope -2 when plotted on the log-log coordinates of
the standard drag curve.

For plotting the relationship:

These values are plotted on the standard drag curves for particles of different sphericity
(Text-Figure 2.3). The result is shown in Figure 2.5.1.
Where the plotted line intersects the standard drag curve for a sphericity of 0.6 (ψ = 0.6),
Rep = 12.

ρx U
The terminal velocity UT may be calculated from: Rep =12= f v T

Hence, terminal velocity, UT = 0.667 m/s

EXERCISE 2.6: (Cambridge University)

Assuming that a car is equivalent to a flat plate 1.5 m square, moving normal to the air-
stream, and with a drag coefficient, CD = 1.1, calculate the power required for

steady motion at 100 km/h on level ground. What is the Reynolds number? For air assume
a density of 1.2 kg/m3 and a viscosity of 1.71 x 10-5 Pas.

SOLUTION TO EXERCISE 2.6:

R′ 1
Drag coefficient, CD = , where R′is the fluid drag force per unit projected ρfU2
2

area and U is the relative velocity of the "particle" and the fluid of density ρf. Relative
velocity, U = 27.78 m/s.
Power required for steady motion = force x velocity

Rep
CD
1 2117
10 21.17

100
0.2117

SOLUTIONS TO CHAPTER 2 EXERCISES: SINGLE PARTICLES IN FLUIDS Page 1.6

1
= R ′ AU = CD ρ f AU 3
2
1
= 1.1 × × (1. 5 × 1.5) × 1. 2 × 27. 783 = 31836 kW
2
 Uρfx 27.78×1.5×1.2
= 31.8 kW. Reynoldsnumber= = =2.92×106

μ 1.71×10−5

EXERCISE 2.7: (Cambridge University)

A cricket ball is thrown with a Reynolds number such that the drag coefficient is 0.4 (Re ≈
105).

1. (a) Find the percentage change in velocity of the ball after 100 m horizontal flight

in air.

2. (b) With a higher Reynolds number and a new ball, the drag coefficient falls to

0.1. What is now the percentage change in velocity over 100 m horizontal flight?

(In both cases take the mass and diameter of the ball as 0.15 kg and 6.7 cm respectively and
the density of air as 1.2 kg/m3.) Readers unfamiliar with the game of cricket may substitute
a baseball.