Final answer:
The velocity of blood in an artery can be modeled using fluid dynamics, specifically the principle of continuity, which states that the product of cross-sectional area and flow velocity is constant. As blood passes into smaller vessels, the total cross-sectional area increases, resulting in a reduced average blood velocity while maintaining the flow rate. Calculations on flow rate can be used to determine the velocity in specific vessels.
Step-by-step explanation:
The velocity of blood in an artery can be modeled using the principles of fluid dynamics. According to the principle of continuity for incompressible fluids, the product of the cross-sectional area (A) of a vessel and the flow velocity (v) is constant. This is expressed in the equation Q = Av, where Q is the flow rate. For example, if a major artery with a cross-sectional area of 1.00 cm² divides into 18 smaller arteries with an average cross-sectional area of 0.400 cm², the total cross-sectional area of the branches becomes 7.20 cm². Therefore, the average velocity of the blood decreases as it passes into the smaller branches to maintain the same flow rate.
The flow rate of the blood (the volume that passes a point in a given time) is also a critical factor when modeling the velocity in blood vessels. For instance, blood pumped from the heart at a rate of 5.0 L/min into the aorta with a radius of 1.0 cm can be used to calculate the speed of the blood through the aorta.