A flow condition in which parallel streamlines of flow are present within a tube is termed:

A flow condition in which parallel streamlines of flow are present within a tube is termed:

• A. Laminar flow
• B. Parabolic flow
• C. Disturbed flow
• D. Aliased flow

Answer: (A)

Parallel, evenly spaced streamlines indicate an orderly, layered motion where fluid layers glide past one another with minimal mixing. In a tube, that describes laminar flow. Laminar flow in a circular tube also has a parabolic velocity profile, meaning the center moves fastest while the velocity goes to zero at the wall due to the no-slip condition. If the flow were turbulent, the streamlines would become chaotic and cross each other, with swirling eddies and mixing. The terms described as disturbed or aliased aren’t standard ways to characterize this orderly pattern. So the condition described by parallel streamlines is laminar flow.

Parallel, evenly spaced streamlines indicate an orderly, layered motion where fluid layers glide past one another with minimal mixing. In a tube, that describes laminar flow. Laminar flow in a circular tube also has a parabolic velocity profile, meaning the center moves fastest while the velocity goes to zero at the wall due to the no-slip condition. If the flow were turbulent, the streamlines would become chaotic and cross each other, with swirling eddies and mixing. The terms described as disturbed or aliased aren’t standard ways to characterize this orderly pattern. So the condition described by parallel streamlines is laminar flow.