Week 4_Assignment 1
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. For the case of natural convection, the density difference due to the effect of
temperature would create convective currents inside a fluid, without the need for any
external pump or rotor. However, for such as situation, the coefficient of thermal
expansion should be related to the density of the fluid. Which of the following
equation relate the coefficient of thermal expansion and the density of a fluid: (where,
ρ0 is the bulk density of the fluid; ρ is the density of the fluid layer, which is being
heated; β is the coefficient of thermal expansion; and ∆T is the temperature
difference between the heated fluid and the bulk value.)
1
a. =ρ (1 − β∆T )
ρ0
b. ρ0= ρ (1 − β∆T )
ρ ρ0 (1 − β∆T )
c. =
d. ρ= ρ0 (1 − β 2 ∆T )
Answer: c
2. Forced convection in a liquid bath is caused by
a) Intense stirring by an external agency
b) Molecular energy interactions
c) Density difference brought about by temperature gradients
d) Flow of electrons in a random fashion
Answer: a
Explanation: If the fluid motion involved in the process is induced by some external
means then it is called forced convection.
3. For a given value of Nusselt number, the convective heat transfer coefficient h is
directly proportional to
a) Length
b) Mass
c) Thermal conductivity
d) Density
Answer: c
Explanation: It is directly proportional to thermal conductivity and inversely proportional to
length.
4. Assume a natural convection heat transfer on a vertical flat plate surrounded by a
fluid. Where will be the fully developed turbulent layer of fluid established, if the
plate is hotter than the fluid?
a) At the bottom of the plate
b) At the middle of the plate
c) At the top of the plate
d) Nowhere
Answer: c
5. For Prandtl number less than unity, which is correct?
a) The momentum boundary layer remains within the thermal boundary layer
b) The thermal boundary layer remains within the momentum boundary layer
c) The thermal boundary layer is equal to the momentum boundary layer
d) None of the above
Answer: a
True or False:
1. For the case of a fluid flowing over a flat solid plate, the fluid particles just adjacent to
the solid wall will adhere to the surface of the solid, and a thin layer of fluid, just over
the solid boundary will continue to flow under laminar condition, irrespective of the
nature of the flowing stream.
a. True
b. False
Answer: a. Concept of Boundary Layer, wherein the fluid molecules adjacent to the solid
wall would adhere to the surface, and due to the effect of viscosity, the effect of solid wall
would be felt within a small region of flow, termed as the Boundary Layer.
2. The ratio of the molecular diffusivity of momentum to the molecular diffusivity of
heat is termed as the Prandtl number, and Prandtl number is not a function of
temperature.
a. True
b. False
Answer: b. It is a function of temperature, because of the fact that the heat capacity, viscosity
and thermal conductivity could all be functions of temperature.
3. For the case of a steady state, two dimensional, isobaric flow, without het generation,
∂T ∂T ∂ 2T
the energy equation reduces to: u +v = α 2 ; where, (u, v) are the local
∂x ∂y ∂y
velocities along the x and y directions respectively; T is the temperature, and α is the
thermal diffusivity.
a. True
b. False
Answer: a
4. It is possible to have the dimensional velocity profile equal to the dimensional
temperature profile when the value of Prandtl number is unity.
a. True
b. False
Answer: a. When Pr = 1, the thermal and hydrodynamics boundary layers coincide.
5. While performing a shell balance to a system consisting of a fluid with viscosity
similar to that of coconut oil, we can neglect the effect of viscous dissipation,
provided the velocity gradients are not large.
a. True
b. False
Answer: a. Although the viscosity is significant, unless the velocity gradients are also large,
the effect of viscous dissipation wouldn’t be significant.
