With turbulent flow the fluid velocity at a particular place changes over time.The flow becomes chaotic and swirling eddies form. Turbulent flow increases the drag on a vehicle and therefore increases the fuel consumption.Laminar flow will change to turbulent flow when the speed increases to a certain value.The velocity at which laminar flow changes over to turbulent flow depends on the fluid, the shape and the area through which the object is moving.
Turbulent Flow
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Specification: Edexcel Physics (8PH0), AS-level, Topic 4: Materials, statement 51. Topic: Fluids.
Key terms in this lesson
- laminar flow
- Smooth flow of a fluid in layers or streamlines, with no mixing between adjacent layers.
More in Fluids
- Upthrust
- Floating and Sinking
- Hydrometer
- Laminar Flow
- Streamlining
- Viscosity
- Investigating Flow Rates
- Investigating Viscosity Changes with Temperature
All 15 lessons in Fluids · All Edexcel AS-level Physics topics