Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Turbulent flow refers to the chaotic and irregular movement of a fluid, characterized by rapid changes in velocity and pressure. It occurs when the fluid's speed exceeds a critical value, causing eddies and swirls.
Viscosity is a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow. It determines how easily or difficultly a fluid can deform or move. For example, honey has higher viscosity than water.
Reynolds Number: The Reynolds number is used to predict whether the flow of a fluid will be laminar or turbulent. It depends on factors such as velocity, density, viscosity, and characteristic length.
Drag Force: Drag force is the resistance experienced by an object moving through a fluid. In turbulent flow, drag force increases due to the chaotic motion of the fluid particles around the object.