What physical property determines whether fluid flow through a blood vessel is smooth laminar flow or turbulent flow? (Hard)
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Reynolds number
- Step 1: Flow transition in pipes is governed by the dimensionless Reynolds number: Re = rho v d / eta. Step 2. In human blood vessels, Re < 2000 is generally laminar, while Re > 2000-3000 indicates turbulence, generating murmurs or bruits. Answer: Reynolds number (Re). Why not the others: Archimedes number relates buoyancy; Mach number relates speed to sound velocity; Froude number governs wave-making resistance.
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