Fluid friction can be defined as the resistance to relative motion where at least one of the surfaces is in a liquid state. It also includes internal resistance in fluids. Like for example, the internal fluid friction in honey is more than in water. The value of this type of friction is generally less compared to dry friction. In this article, we look at 30 examples of fluid friction with a detailed explanation.
Examples of Fluid Friction
- Swimming in the water
- Diving into the water
- Water flows through a channel
- Lubrication
- Oil on a surface
- Coral reefs
- The flow of honey
- Cleaning of wet surface
- Hands onto a river
- Movement of fishes
- The flow of ink in ballpoint pen
- Suking fluids through a straw
- Splashing water onto your face
- Shaving cream
- Soil erosion
- Water droplets off the windowpane
- vibration damper
- Pressing toothpaste out of the tube:
- Water on superhydrophobic surfaces
- Difficulty in gripping objects with wet hands:
Now, let us discuss each one of the examples of fluid friction in detail.
The flow of honey: You might have seen that honey always flows slowly. This is due to the internal friction of honey molecules.
Cleaning of wet surface: We always use a fluid to clean the surface. This makes the job easier compared to dry friction.
Water on superhydrophobic surfaces: Superhydrophobic surfaces repel water to a great extent. Hence the fluid friction of aqueous solutions will be very low on such surfaces.
Suking fluids through a straw: Fluid friction causes some resistance. That is why it is difficult to drink thick fluids using a straw as compared to thin ones.
Splashing water onto your face: You can feel the water flowing over your face slowly along the curves of the skin, rather than running off.
Swimming in the water: When we swim we feel a resistance to flow. A swimmer pushes the water backward in order to propel it forward. This opposition to the motion is called fluid friction. That is why swimming is recommended as a good workout for building your muscles.
Diving into the water: When a diver dives into the water, you might have noticed that the diver stretches out his hand. This is done so as to maintain a streamlined body position. This helps the diver to reduce fluid friction.
Shaving cream: The shaving cream creates a thin foamy layer between the skin and the razor blade. Thus it reduces friction and minimizes any damage to the skin.
Soil erosion: When water flows over a surface there is friction between the water flow and the surface.
Hands onto a river: Just like how you experience air resistance by throwing your hands outside a moving car if you keep your hand into a flowing river you can feel fluid friction for yourself.
Movement of fishes in water: Fishes have a streamlined body to reduce friction. The shape of boats is based on a similar principle.
The flow of ink in ballpoint pen: If there was no fluid friction, it would have been difficult to control the flow of ink, plus they would flow onto the paper and there would be no control.
Water flows through a channel:Â Water through any channel comes in contact with the surface, like for example in rivers or in the pipe system. The fluid friction in the pipe system is called pipe friction.
Lubrication: Lubrication of surface surfaces is done to reduce fluid friction. Lubricants are slimy in nature and can be considered semi-fluids. Since fluid friction is less than dry friction, they are used to reduce friction between two solid surfaces.
Water droplets off the window-pane: After a rainy day, the water droplets remain on the window panes for some time. This is due to the fluid friction, that holds up the droplets against the force of gravity.
Vibration damper: Vibration damper systems control and protect structures from shock and vibrations viscous fluids are used to control shock loads.
Coral reefs: Coral reefs experience fluid friction just like how plants resist a storm.
Pressing toothpaste out of the tube: Thin fluids can be easily squeezed out of a tube like a cream. But, fluid with high friction like toothpaste has to be squeezed harder.
Oil on a surface: Oil is fluid, and oil on any surface will reduce friction drastically. That is why we fall when we walk on oily surfaces.
Difficulty in gripping objects with wet hands: Friction helps us to grip onto surfaces. But wet hands bring fluid friction into the picture, which reduces friction and makes it difficult to grip onto objects.
What is the most common example of fluid friction in our daily life?
The most common application of fluid friction in our daily lives would be to reduce friction using fluids. For example, lubricants, oils are used to reduce friction by converting dry into fluid friction. Even we use many creams for that purpose. Fluid friction is also used for cleaning objects easily, like for example cleaning fluids, taking bath, washing clothes, etc.
