Question

A major artery with a cross-sectional area of 1.00cm2 branches into 18 smaller arteries, each with an average cross-sectional area of 0.400cm2. By what factor is the average velocity of the blood reduced when it passes into these branches

Answer 1

The velocity in the smaller arteries will be reduced by a factor of 0.139

Step-by-step explanation:

The flow rate of blood is going to stay the same when it is transferred from the major artery to the smaller ones.

flow rate = Velocity * Area

Since the flow rate remains constant, we have:

Flow rate in major artery = combined flow rate in smaller arteries

Velocity in Major artery * 1.00 = Velocity in smaller artery * (0.4 * 18)

`V_M * 1 = V_S * (18*0.4)`

`(V_S)/(V_M)=(1)/(18*0.4)`

`(V_S)/(V_M)= 0.139`

Thus, the velocity in the smaller arteries will be reduced by a factor of 0.139