Question

A very large thin plate is centered in a gap of width 0.06 m with a different oils of unknown viscosities above and below; one viscosity is twice the other. When the plate is pulled at a velocity of 0.3 m/s, the resulting force on one square meter of plate due to the viscous shear on both sides is 29 N. Assuming viscous flow and neglecting all end effects calculate the viscosities of the oils.

Answer 1

The viscosities of the oils are 0.967 Pa.s and 1.933 Pa.s

Step-by-step explanation:

Assuming the two oils are Newtonian fluids.

From Newton's law of viscosity for Newtonian fluids, we know that the shear stress is proportional to the velocity gradient with the viscosity serving as the constant of proportionality.

τ = μ (∂v/∂y)

There are oils above and below the plate, so we can write this expression for the both cases.

τ₁ = μ₁ (∂v/∂y)

τ₂ = μ₂ (∂v/∂y)

dv = 0.3 m/s

dy = (0.06/2) = 0.03 m (the plate is centered in a gap of width 0.06 m)

τ₁ = μ₁ (0.3/0.03) = 10μ₁

τ₂ = μ₂ (0.3/0.03) = 10μ₂

But the shear stress on the plate is given as 29 N per square meter.

τ = 29 N/m²

But this stress is a sum of stress due to both shear stress above and below the plate

τ = τ₁ + τ₂ = 10μ₁ + 10μ₂ = 29

But it is also given that one viscosity is twice the other

μ₁ = 2μ₂

10μ₁ + 10μ₂ = 29

10(2μ₂) + 10μ₂ = 29

30μ₂ = 29

μ₂ = (29/30) = 0.967 Pa.s

μ₁ = 2μ₂ = 2 × 0.967 = 1.933 Pa.s

Hope this Helps!!!