Segment V6.6: Laminar Flow

(Related to Textbook Section 6.9.3 - Steady, Laminar Flow In Circular Tubes)

The velocity distribution is parabolic for steady, laminar flow in circular tubes. A filament of dye is placed across a circular tube containing a very viscous liquid which is initially at rest. With the opening of a valve at the bottom of the tube the liquid starts to flow, and the parabolic velocity distribution is revealed. Although the flow is actually unsteady, it is quasi-steady since it is only slowly changing. Thus, at any instant in time the velocity distribution corresponds to the characteristic steady-flow parabolic distribution.