Mechanical properties of fluids
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. A tall cylinder is filled with viscous oil. A round pebble is dropped from the top with zero initial velocity. From the plot shown in figure, indicate the one that represents the velocity
(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

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Thinking Process
When the pebble is dropped from the top, a variable force called viscous force will act which increases with increase in speed. And at equilibrium this velocity becomes constant.
Answer (c) When the pebble is falling through the viscous oil the viscous force is
where
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Option (a): This graph shows a linear increase in velocity with time, which implies a constant acceleration. However, in the case of a pebble falling through viscous oil, the acceleration is not constant due to the increasing viscous force opposing the motion. Therefore, the velocity will not increase linearly.
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Option (b): This graph shows a parabolic increase in velocity with time, which suggests an increasing acceleration. In reality, the acceleration decreases over time as the viscous force increases, eventually leading to a constant terminal velocity. Hence, this graph does not accurately represent the situation.
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Option (d): This graph shows a velocity that increases and then decreases over time. In the case of a pebble falling through viscous oil, the velocity should increase until it reaches a constant terminal velocity. The velocity should not decrease after reaching a maximum value, making this graph incorrect.
2. Which of the following diagrams does not represent a streamline flow?
(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

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Answer (d) In a streamline flow at any given point, the velocity of each passing fluid particles remaines constant. If we consider a cross-sectional area, then a point on the area cannot have different velocities at the same time, hence two streamlines of flow cannot cross each other.
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(a) The diagram shows streamlines that are parallel and do not intersect, which is characteristic of a streamline flow. In streamline flow, the fluid particles follow smooth paths in layers, and these paths do not cross each other.
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(b) The diagram depicts streamlines that are curved but do not intersect. This is also a characteristic of streamline flow, where the fluid particles follow smooth, non-intersecting paths.
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(c) The diagram shows streamlines that are converging but do not intersect. In streamline flow, streamlines can converge or diverge, but they do not cross each other, which is consistent with streamline flow behavior.
3. Along a streamline,
(a) the velocity of a fluid particle remains constant
(b) the velocity of all fluid particles crossing a given position is constant
(c) the velocity of all fluid particles at a given instant is constant
(d) the speed of a fluid particle remains constant
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Answer
(b) As we know for a streamline flow of a liquid velocity of each particle at a particular cross-section is constant, because
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(a) The velocity of a fluid particle does not remain constant along a streamline because the direction of the velocity can change even if the speed remains constant.
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(c) The velocity of all fluid particles at a given instant is not constant because different streamlines can have different velocities at the same instant.
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(d) The speed of a fluid particle does not necessarily remain constant along a streamline because the speed can vary depending on changes in the cross-sectional area of the flow.
4. An ideal fluid flows through a pipe of circular cross-section made of two sections with diameters
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Answer (a) Consider the diagram where an ideal fluid is flowing through a pipe.

As given
Applying equation of continuity for cross-sections
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Option (b)
: This ratio is incorrect because it does not account for the squared relationship between the radii of the two sections of the pipe. The correct ratio of velocities is derived from the square of the ratio of the diameters, not a simple linear ratio. -
Option (c)
: This ratio is incorrect because it does not follow from the equation of continuity, which involves the areas (and thus the squares of the radii) of the cross-sections. The correct ratio should be the square of the ratio of the diameters, not the square roots. -
Option (d)
: This ratio is incorrect for the same reason as option (c). The equation of continuity requires the ratio of the areas, which involves the squares of the radii, not their square roots.
5. The angle of contact at the interface of water-glass is
(a) water
(b) ethylalcohol
(c) mercury
(d) methyliodide
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Answer
(c) According to the question, the observed meniscus is of convex figure shape. Which is only possible when angle of contact is obtuse. Hence, the combination will be of mercury-glass

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Water: The angle of contact at the interface of water-glass is
, which results in a concave meniscus, not a convex one. -
Ethyl alcohol: The angle of contact at the interface of ethyl alcohol-glass is
, which also results in a concave meniscus, not a convex one. -
Methyliodide: The angle of contact at the interface of methyliodide-glass is
, which is still an acute angle and results in a concave meniscus, not a convex one.
Multiple Choice Questioins (More Than One Options)
6. For a surface molecule,
(a) the net force on it is zero
(b) there is a net downward force
(c) the potential energy is less than that of a molecule inside
(d) the potential energy is more than that of a molecule inside
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Answer
Consider the diagram where two molecules of a liquid are shown. One is well inside the liquid and other is on the surface. The molecule
And molecules on the liquid surface have some extra energy as it surrounded surraind by only lower half side of liquid molecules.

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(a) the net force on it is zero: This option is incorrect because a surface molecule experiences an imbalance in forces. Unlike a molecule well inside the liquid, which experiences equal forces from all directions resulting in a net force of zero, a surface molecule is only surrounded by liquid molecules on its lower half. This creates a net downward force on the surface molecule.
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(c) the potential energy is less than that of a molecule inside: This option is incorrect because surface molecules have higher potential energy compared to molecules inside the liquid. The molecules inside the liquid are surrounded by other molecules on all sides, leading to a lower potential energy state. In contrast, surface molecules are only partially surrounded, resulting in higher potential energy.
7. Pressure is a scalar quantity, because
(a) it is the ratio of force to area and both force and area are vectors
(b) it is the ratio of the magnitude of the force to area
(c) it is the ratio of the component of the force normal to the area
(d) it does not depend on the size of the area chosen
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Answer
Pressure is defined as the ratio of magnitude of component of the force normal to the area and the area under consideration.
As magnitude of component is considered, hence, it will not have any direction. So, pressure is a scalar quantity.
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Option (a) is incorrect: Pressure is not the ratio of force to area where both force and area are considered as vectors. Pressure is specifically defined as the ratio of the magnitude of the normal component of the force to the area, and not the vector quantities themselves.
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Option (d) is incorrect: Pressure can indeed depend on the size of the area chosen. For a given force, if the area is smaller, the pressure is higher, and if the area is larger, the pressure is lower. Therefore, pressure does depend on the size of the area under consideration.
8. A wooden block with a coin placed on its top, floats in water as shown in figure.

The distance
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Show Answer
Thinking Process
When any body floats in a liquid, the upthrust force acting on the body due to the displaced liquid is balanced by its weight.
Answer
When the coin falls into the water, weight of the (block + coin) system decreases, which was balanced by the upthrust force earlier. As weight of the system decreases, hence upthrust force will also decrease which is only possible when
As
Note As the coin falls into water, it displaces some volume of water which is very less hence, we neglect volume of the coin.
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Option (c) is incorrect because if ( l ) were to increase, it would imply that the block is displacing more water, which would require a greater upthrust force. However, since the weight of the system decreases when the coin falls off, the upthrust force required also decreases, leading to a decrease in ( l ).
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Option (d) is incorrect because if ( h ) were to increase, it would imply that the block is floating higher in the water, displacing less water. However, since the weight of the system decreases when the coin falls off, the block will float lower in the water, leading to a decrease in ( h ).
9. With increase in temperature, the viscosity of
(a) gases decreases
(b) liquids increases
(c) gases increases
(d) liquids decreases
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Answer
(c,
For liquids coefficient of viscosity,
i.e., with increase in temperature
For gases coefficient of viscosity,
i.e., with increase in temperature
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(a) gases decreases: This is incorrect because, for gases, the viscosity actually increases with an increase in temperature. This is due to the fact that as temperature rises, the kinetic energy of gas molecules increases, leading to more frequent and forceful collisions, which in turn increases the viscosity.
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(b) liquids increases: This is incorrect because, for liquids, the viscosity decreases with an increase in temperature. As temperature rises, the intermolecular forces within the liquid weaken, allowing the molecules to move more freely and thus reducing the viscosity.
10. Streamline flow is more likely for liquids with
(a) high density
(b) high viscosity
(c) low density
(d) low viscosity
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Answer (b, c)
Streamline flow is more likely for liquids having low density. We know that greater the coefficient of viscosity of a liquid more will be velocity gradient hence each line of flow can be easily differentiated. Also higher the coefficient of viscosity lower will be Reynolds number, hence flow more like to be streamline.
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(a) high density: High density increases the inertia of the fluid, making it more difficult to maintain a smooth, orderly flow. This can lead to turbulence rather than streamline flow.
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(d) low viscosity: Low viscosity means the fluid has less internal resistance to flow, which can result in higher velocities and a greater likelihood of turbulent flow rather than streamline flow.
Very Short Answer Type Questions
11. Is viscosity a vector?
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Answer Viscosity is a property of liquid it does not have any direction, hence it is a scalar quantity.12. Is surface tension a vector?
Show Answer
Answer No, surface tension is a scalar quantity.
Surface tension
13. Iceberg floats in water with part of it submerged. What is the fraction of the volume of iceberg submerged, if the density of ice is
Show Answer
Answer
Given, density of ice
Density of water
Let
Weight of the iceberg
or
14. A vessel filled with water is kept on a weighing pan and the scale adjusted to zero. A block of mass
Show Answer
Answer Consider the diagram,
The scale is adjusted to zero, therefore, when the block suspended to a spring is immersed in water, then the reading of the scale will be equal to the thrust on the block due to water.
Thrust

15. A cubical block of density
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Thinking Process
As the elevator is accelerating upward the net acceleration of the block with respect to the elevator can be calculate by the concept of pseudo force.
Answer Consider the diagram.
Let the density of water be
1st case
Volume of the water displaced by the submerged part of the
In floating condition,
Weight of the block

2nd case
When elevator is accelerating upward with an acceleration a, then effective acceleration
Then, weight of the block
(
Let
Now, in the floating condition, weight of the block = weight of the displaced water
or
From 1st and 2nd case,
We see that,the fraction of the block submerged in water is independent of the acceleration of the elevator.
Note We should not confuse with the concept of pseudo force, i.e., pseudo force is downward, hence fraction will change due to increased force.
Short Answer Type Questions
16. The sap in trees, which consists mainly of water in summer, rises in a system of capillaries of radius
Show Answer
Answer
Given, radius
Surface tension
Angle of
The maximum height to which sap can rise in trees through capillarity action is given by
This is the maximum height to which the sap can rise due to surface tension. Since, many trees have heights much more than this, capillary action alone cannot account for the rise of water in all trees.
17. The free surface of oil in a tanker, at rest, is horizontal. If the tanker starts accelerating the free surface will be titled by an angle
Show Answer
Thinking Process
As the tanker starts accelerating, free surface of the tanker will not be horizontal because pseudo force acts.
Answer Consider the diagram where a tanker is accelerating with acceleration a.

Consider an elementary particle of the fluid of mass
The acting forces on the particle with respect to the tanker are shown above .
Now, balancing forces (as the particle is in equilibrium) along the inclined direction component of weight
18. Two mercury droplets of radii
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Thinking Process
In this process, conservation of mass will be applied. Before and after collapse, mass and hence, volume of the system remains conserved.
Answer Consider the diagram.
Radii of mercury droplets
Surface tension
Let the radius of the big drop formed by collapsing be
or
or

Therefore,
Note In this process, energy is not conserved. Energy is Ist due to the collapsing, in the form of radiations.
19. If a drop of liquid breaks into smaller droplets, it results in lowering of temperature of the droplets. Let a drop of radius
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Answer
When a big drop of radius
Due to releasing of this energy, the temperature is lowered.
If
20. The surface tension and vapour pressure of water at
Show Answer
Answer Given, surface tension of water
Vapour pressure
The drop will evaporate, if the water pressure is greater than the vapour pressure.
Let a water droplet or radius
Vapour pressure
Long Answer Type Questions
21. (a) Pressure decreases as one ascends the atmosphere. If the density of air is
(b) Considering the pressure
(c) If
(d) This model of the atmosphere works for relatively small distances. Identify the underlying assumption that limits the model.
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Thinking Process
As we are going up in the atmosphere, thickness of the gases above us decreases hence, pressure also decreases.
Answer
(a) Consider a horizontal parcel of air with cross-section

Let the pressure on the top surface and bottom surface be
Negative sign shows that pressure decreases with height.
(b) Let
As per question, pressure
(c) As
(d) We know that
Temperature
22. Surface tension is exhibited by liquids due to force of attraction between molecules of the liquid. The surface tension decreases with increase in temperature and vanishes at boiling point. Given that the latent heat of vaporisation for water
(a) Estimate the energy required for one molecule of water to evaporate.
(b) Show that the inter-molecular distance for water is
(c)
(d) During vaporisation a molecule overcomes a force
(e) Calculate
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Answer
(a) Given ,
Since, there are
(b) Let the water molecules to be points and are separated at distance
Thus, the volume around one molecule is
The volume around one molecule is
(c)
If
(d) Work done to change the distance from
This work done is equal to energy required to evaporate 1 molecule.
(e) Surface tension
3. A hot air balloon is a sphere of radius
Show Answer
Thinking Process
Pressure inside the curved surface will be greater than of outside pressure.
Answer
Let the pressure inside the balloon be

Considering the air to be an ideal gas
So.
where,
and
where,
As in atmosphere