Engineering Questions with Answers - Multiple Choice Questions
MCQs on Laminar Flow – 2
1 - Question
The defining assumption for finding the skin- friction drag on an airfoil is____
a) Airfoil is new low-speed airfoil
b) Skin- friction acts due to shear force
c) Airfoil has a zero angle of attack
d) Airfoil is considered a flat plate at zero angle of attack
View Answer
Explanation: The essential assumption made for finding skin- friction drag on the airfoil is that it is considered as a flat plate with zero angle of attack. It need not be low-speed airfoil only. Skin friction is caused by shear force and it is not an assumption.
2 - Question
The essential assumption of airfoil being a flat plate with a zero angle of attack gives accurate results always.
a) False
b) True
View Answer
Explanation: This assumption is a first order approximation and the results become more accurate as the airfoil gets thinner and angle of attack approaches zero. It gives good results but the level of accuracy varies.
3 - Question
The Reynolds number for a fluid with density d, free-stream velocity V, viscosity u at a distance x from the leading edge is_____
a) R = Vdux
b) R = xVdu
c) R = Vxdx
d) R = xduV
View Answer
Explanation: Reynolds number is an important quantity in the study of fluid dynamics and aerodynamics. The correct formula is R = xVdu. It is important to remember that it is a dimensionless quantity.
4 - Question
For a Reynolds number Rec=9×104 and chord length 1m, what is the laminar boundary layer thickness at the trailing edge (in cm)?
a) 2.34
b) 3
c) 1.5
d) 1.67
View Answer
Explanation: The laminar boundary layer thickness is given by δ=5xRex√, where in our question x is the chord length. Solving this we get the thickness to be 5/3 cm (1.67 cm).
5 - Question
The boundary layer thickness for an incompressible, laminar flow at a distance x with Reynolds number Rex is δ. Which is____
a) Directly proportional to √x
b) Inversely proportional to x
c) Directly proportional to Rex
d) Inversely proportional to Rex2
View Answer
Explanation: The boundary layer thickness for an incompressible, laminar flow over a flat plate at zero angle of attack, at a distance x where Reynolds number is Rex is given by δ=5xRex√. Here Reynolds number is Rex=xVdu. Thus, the thickness is directly proportional to √x.
6 - Question
For finding the skin- friction drag we need to only measure shear-stress at the top or bottom surface.
a) Always true
b) Always false
c) True for flat plate, which is a symmetric airfoil
d) Depends on the Reynolds number
View Answer
Explanation: The shear stress distribution on the airfoil is the same at the top and bottom surface for a flat plate. And we can just integrate the local shear stress on one side and double the result to get the total skin-friction drag.
7 - Question
The coefficient of skin-friction drag coefficient Cf, as conventionally defined, when used gives half the value of total drag.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: The skin- friction coefficient Cf, has been defined for the skin-friction drag over one surface only. So in order to calculate total drag, we need to multiply the result by 2.
8 - Question
The constant which is present while establishing a relationship for Cf and Rec for a laminar flow is_____
a) 2.65
b) 0.664
c) π
d) 1.33
View Answer
Explanation: The coefficient of skin-friction drag is related to Reynolds number as Cf=1.328Rec√ where Rec is the Reynolds number at the trailing edge and the coefficient gives half the total skin-friction drag. The required constant is 1.328 for the case of a laminar flow.
9 - Question
The total skin-friction drag coefficient for laminar flow with Reynolds number at the trailing edge being Rec=40000 and chord length is 1m, is _____
a) 0.01328
b) 0.00664
c) 0.02656
d) 0.664
View Answer
Explanation: The total skin-friction drag coefficient for laminar flow is twice the value of the skin-friction drag coefficient for laminar flow, Cf=1.328Rec√. Putting the given values, we get the answer as 0.01328.
10 - Question
We can get the skin-friction drag coefficient for a laminar flow for a flat plate by using x as chord length in local skin- friction drag coefficient calculation.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: The skin-friction drag coefficient is Cf=1.328Rec√ and the local skin-friction drag coefficient is Cf=0.664Rex√. Cf is calculated by integrating cf over the whole airfoil chord and as visible by the formula, we cannot get it directly by putting x = c.
11 - Question
The laminar boundary layer for a thin airfoil is maximum at_____
a) Leading edge
b) Trailing edge
c) Quarter-chord
d) We can’t say without calculating
View Answer
Explanation: The boundary layer thickness increases parabolically with the distance measured from the leading edge (denoted by x) for incompressible, laminar flow. Therefore, it is largest at the trailing edge
12 - Question
Select the flow which is not laminar all over the thin airfoil at α=0°. The given values are for Rec.
a) 7×105
b) 9×104
c) 2×103
d) We can’t say with just this information
View Answer
Explanation: For a flat plate, the turbulent flow starts for Rec>5×105 and flow is laminar for Rec<1×105. A thin airfoil with α=0° can be essentially considered a flat plate. So the turbulent flow is the one with Rec=7×105.