Laminar Flow

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I saw an interesting video today showing laminar flow, I want to understand how this happens but everything I looked up was too complicated for me.

In: Physics

3 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Laminar flow is when any particle in a flowing fluid follows a predictable path and no erratic motion (turbulence, more or less random shaking and movement) occurs. It can look really pretty on camera under some nice conditions (where it approaches a “perfect” condition) but even things like running your sink can simulate the flow. It’s most characteristic of slow flows over small areas, but thick, viscous, fluids also show the behavior often show the behavior too.

Anonymous 0 Comments

It just means that vast majority of the fluid in a flow is moving in the same direction. It will generally happen in short distances, with lower velocities, and smaller pipe diameters. Those factors contribute to what is called a Reynolds number, assuming the isn’t an obsticle top obstruct flow. Lower values will give more laminar flow.

Anonymous 0 Comments

You’re not alone. Our understanding of laminar vs turbulent flow is still not fully developed; Werner Heisenberg is quoted as saying “When I meet God, I am going to ask him two questions: Why relativity? And why turbulence? I really believe he will have an answer for the first.”