<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >
n 1 A 1 v ¯ 1 = n 2 A 2 v ¯ 2 , size 12{n rSub { size 8{1} } A rSub { size 8{1} } {overline {v rSub { size 8{1} } }} =n rSub { size 8{2} } A rSub { size 8{2} } {overline {v rSub { size 8{2} } }} } {}

where n 1 size 12{n rSub { size 8{1} } } {} and n 2 size 12{n rSub { size 8{2} } } {} are the number of branches in each of the sections along the tube.

Calculating flow speed and vessel diameter: branching in the cardiovascular system

The aorta is the principal blood vessel through which blood leaves the heart in order to circulate around the body. (a) Calculate the average speed of the blood in the aorta if the flow rate is 5.0 L/min. The aorta has a radius of 10 mm. (b) Blood also flows through smaller blood vessels known as capillaries. When the rate of blood flow in the aorta is 5.0 L/min, the speed of blood in the capillaries is about 0.33 mm/s. Given that the average diameter of a capillary is 8.0 μ m , calculate the number of capillaries in the blood circulatory system.

Strategy

We can use Q = A v ¯ size 12{Q=A {overline {v}} } {} to calculate the speed of flow in the aorta and then use the general form of the equation of continuity to calculate the number of capillaries as all of the other variables are known.

Solution for (a)

The flow rate is given by Q = A v ¯ size 12{Q=A {overline {v}} } {} or v ¯ = Q πr 2 size 12{ {overline {v}} = { {Q} over {πr rSup { size 8{2} } } } } {} for a cylindrical vessel.

Substituting the known values (converted to units of meters and seconds) gives

v ¯ = 5.0 L/min 10 3 m 3 /L 1 min/ 60 s π 0 . 010 m 2 = 0 . 27 m/s . size 12{ { bar {v}}= { { left (5 "." 0`"L/min" right ) left ("10" rSup { size 8{ - 3} } `m rSup { size 8{3} } "/L" right ) left (1`"min/""60"`s right )} over {π left (0 "." "010 m" right ) rSup { size 8{2} } } } =0 "." "27"`"m/s"} {}

Solution for (b)

Using n 1 A 1 v ¯ 1 = n 2 A 2 v ¯ 1 size 12{n rSub { size 8{1} } A rSub { size 8{1} } {overline {v rSub { size 8{1} } }} =n rSub { size 8{2} } A rSub { size 8{2} } {overline {v rSub { size 8{2} } }} } {} , assigning the subscript 1 to the aorta and 2 to the capillaries, and solving for n 2 size 12{n rSub { size 8{2} } } {} (the number of capillaries) gives n 2 = n 1 A 1 v ¯ 1 A 2 v ¯ 2 . Converting all quantities to units of meters and seconds and substituting into the equation above gives

n 2 = 1 π 10 × 10 3 m 2 0.27 m/s π 4.0 × 10 6 m 2 0.33 × 10 3 m/s = 5.0 × 10 9 capillaries . size 12{n rSub { size 8{2} } = { { left (1 right ) left (π right ) left ("10" times "10" rSup { size 8{ - 3} } " m" right ) rSup { size 8{2} } left (0 "." "27"" m/s" right )} over { left (π right ) left (4 "." 0 times "10" rSup { size 8{ - 6} } " m" right ) rSup { size 8{2} } left (0 "." "33" times "10" rSup { size 8{ - 3} } " m/s" right )} } =5 "." 0 times "10" rSup { size 8{9} } " capillaries"} {}

Discussion

Note that the speed of flow in the capillaries is considerably reduced relative to the speed in the aorta due to the significant increase in the total cross-sectional area at the capillaries. This low speed is to allow sufficient time for effective exchange to occur although it is equally important for the flow not to become stationary in order to avoid the possibility of clotting. Does this large number of capillaries in the body seem reasonable? In active muscle, one finds about 200 capillaries per mm 3 size 12{"mm" rSup { size 8{3} } } {} , or about 200 × 10 6 size 12{"200" times "10" rSup { size 8{6} } } {} per 1 kg of muscle. For 20 kg of muscle, this amounts to about 4 × 10 9 size 12{4 times "10" rSup { size 8{9} } } {} capillaries.

Section summary

  • Flow rate Q size 12{Q} {} is defined to be the volume V size 12{V} {} flowing past a point in time t size 12{t} {} , or Q = V t size 12{Q= { {V} over {t} } } {} where V size 12{V} {} is volume and t size 12{t} {} is time.
  • The SI unit of volume is m 3 size 12{m rSup { size 8{3} } } {} .
  • Another common unit is the liter (L), which is 10 3 m 3 size 12{"10" rSup { size 8{ - 3} } `m rSup { size 8{3} } } {} .
  • Flow rate and velocity are related by Q = A v ¯ size 12{Q=A {overline {v}} } {} where A size 12{A} {} is the cross-sectional area of the flow and v ¯ size 12{ {overline {v}} } {} is its average velocity.
  • For incompressible fluids, flow rate at various points is constant. That is,
    Q 1 = Q 2 A 1 v ¯ 1 = A 2 v ¯ 2 n 1 A 1 v ¯ 1 = n 2 A 2 v ¯ 2 . size 12{ left none matrix { Q rSub { size 8{1} } =Q rSub { size 8{2} } {} ##A rSub { size 8{1} } {overline {v}} rSub { size 8{1} } =A rSub { size 8{2} } {overline {v}} rSub { size 8{2} } {} ## n rSub { size 8{1} } A rSub { size 8{1} } {overline {v}} rSub { size 8{1} } =n rSub { size 8{2} } A rSub { size 8{2} } {overline {v}} rSub { size 8{2} }} right rbrace "." } {}

Conceptual questions

What is the difference between flow rate and fluid velocity? How are they related?

Many figures in the text show streamlines. Explain why fluid velocity is greatest where streamlines are closest together. (Hint: Consider the relationship between fluid velocity and the cross-sectional area through which it flows.)

Identify some substances that are incompressible and some that are not.

Problems&Exercises

What is the average flow rate in cm 3 /s size 12{"cm" rSup { size 8{3} } "/s"} {} of gasoline to the engine of a car traveling at 100 km/h if it averages 10.0 km/L?

2.78 cm 3 /s size 12{"cm" rSup { size 8{3} } "/s"} {}

Questions & Answers

what is defense mechanism
Chinaza Reply
what is defense mechanisms
Chinaza
I'm interested in biological psychology and cognitive psychology
Tanya Reply
what does preconceived mean
sammie Reply
physiological Psychology
Nwosu Reply
How can I develope my cognitive domain
Amanyire Reply
why is communication effective
Dakolo Reply
Communication is effective because it allows individuals to share ideas, thoughts, and information with others.
effective communication can lead to improved outcomes in various settings, including personal relationships, business environments, and educational settings. By communicating effectively, individuals can negotiate effectively, solve problems collaboratively, and work towards common goals.
it starts up serve and return practice/assessments.it helps find voice talking therapy also assessments through relaxed conversation.
miss
Every time someone flushes a toilet in the apartment building, the person begins to jumb back automatically after hearing the flush, before the water temperature changes. Identify the types of learning, if it is classical conditioning identify the NS, UCS, CS and CR. If it is operant conditioning, identify the type of consequence positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement or punishment
Wekolamo Reply
please i need answer
Wekolamo
because it helps many people around the world to understand how to interact with other people and understand them well, for example at work (job).
Manix Reply
Agreed 👍 There are many parts of our brains and behaviors, we really need to get to know. Blessings for everyone and happy Sunday!
ARC
A child is a member of community not society elucidate ?
JESSY Reply
Isn't practices worldwide, be it psychology, be it science. isn't much just a false belief of control over something the mind cannot truly comprehend?
Simon Reply
compare and contrast skinner's perspective on personality development on freud
namakula Reply
Skinner skipped the whole unconscious phenomenon and rather emphasized on classical conditioning
war
explain how nature and nurture affect the development and later the productivity of an individual.
Amesalu Reply
nature is an hereditary factor while nurture is an environmental factor which constitute an individual personality. so if an individual's parent has a deviant behavior and was also brought up in an deviant environment, observation of the behavior and the inborn trait we make the individual deviant.
Samuel
I am taking this course because I am hoping that I could somehow learn more about my chosen field of interest and due to the fact that being a PsyD really ignites my passion as an individual the more I hope to learn about developing and literally explore the complexity of my critical thinking skills
Zyryn Reply
good👍
Jonathan
and having a good philosophy of the world is like a sandwich and a peanut butter 👍
Jonathan
generally amnesi how long yrs memory loss
Kelu Reply
interpersonal relationships
Abdulfatai Reply
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply
Practice Key Terms 2

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Physics 101. OpenStax CNX. Jan 07, 2013 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11479/1.1
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Physics 101' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask