1.

Settling of magnesia particles in water (a) For a sphere of diameter d in a uid, the net gravity/buoyancy force is given by: Fw Fb = 1 3 d g(s ) 6

where s is the density of the sphere, and that of the uid. When the sphere is rising or sinking at its terminal velocity V , that force is exactly balanced by the drag force, given by: 1 1 |Fw Fb | = Fd = f KA = f V 2 d2 2 4 where the friction factor f in Stokes ow is: f= resulting in a drag force of: Fd = 3V d We set this equal to |Fw Fb | and solve for V : 1 3 d g|s | = |Fw Fb | = Fd = 3V d 6 V = (b) Set V = 10cm/1min =
1 m 600 s

24 24 = Re V d

d2 g|s | 18

and solve for d: 18V = g|s | d

kg 18 103 ms m 9.8 s2 |3850 1 m 600 s kg 1000| m3

d=

33m

All of the particles larger than 33m across will sink faster than that, and reach the bottom within one minute. (c) The Reynolds number is: Re =
kg 1 1000 m3 600 m 3.3 105 m V d s = = 0.054 kg 103 ms

This is below 0.1, so were safely in the Stokes law rgime. e