Question

Give the significance of the Reynolds number.

Answer 1

Step1: Reynolds Number

1. The ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces is known as the Reynolds number.
2. The Reynolds number is a dimensionless number used to classify fluid systems in which viscosity plays a significant role in influencing velocities or flow patterns.
3. Its main use is to forecast the transition from laminar to turbulent flow.

Step2: Formula for Reynolds Number

$$\begin{gathered} Re=\left(\frac{\rho uL}{\mu }\right) \\ Re=\frac{\left(uL\right)}{v} \\ [where\rho =densityofthegivenfluid \\ u=speedwithwhichthefluidflows \\ \mu =dynamicvis\cos ityofthefluid \\ L=characteristiclineardimension \\ v=kinematicvelocityofthegivenfluid] \end{gathered}$$

Step3: Significance of the Reynolds number

1. The Reynolds number plays an important role in predicting the behavior of a liquid. To determine whether a liquid stream is laminar or turbulent, the Reynolds number is used.
2. The Reynolds number is also used in scaling liquid element problems and to distinguish dynamic comparability between two different instances of the liquid streams, such as a model plane and its full-size counterpart. Such scaling isn't linear, and applying Reynolds numbers to the two situations allows for the creation of scaling variables.