Previous Year Questions

Fluid Mechanics (2008-22)

By Avinash Singh (Ex IES, B.Tech IITR)

Kinematics of Fluid in Motion

1 𝑦𝑦
1. If the velocity potential of a fluid is 𝜙𝜙 = 𝑧𝑧 tan−1 � � , 𝑟𝑟 2 = 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 + 𝑧𝑧 2 , then show
𝑟𝑟 3 𝑥𝑥
2
that the stream lines lie on the surfaces 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 + 𝑧𝑧 2 = 𝑐𝑐(𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 )3 , 𝑐𝑐 being a
constant.
2. Show that 𝜙𝜙 = 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥(𝑟𝑟) is a possible form for the velocity potential for an
incompressible fluid motion. If the fluid velocity 𝑞𝑞 → 0 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑟𝑟 → ∞ ,find the surfaces of
constant speed.
1 (𝑥𝑥+𝑎𝑎)2 +𝑦𝑦2
3. Given the velocity potential 𝜙𝜙 = 2 log � (𝑥𝑥−𝑎𝑎)2 +𝑦𝑦2 �, determine the streamlines.

4. In an axis symmetric motion, show that stream function exists due to equation of
continuity. Express the velocity components of the stream function. Find the
equation satisfied by the stream function if the flow is irrotational.
5. If the velocity of an incompressible fluid at the point (𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦, 𝑧𝑧) is given by
3𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 3𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 3𝑧𝑧 2 −𝑟𝑟 2
( , , ) , 𝑟𝑟 2 = 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 + 𝑧𝑧 2 , then prove that the liquid motion is possible
𝑟𝑟 5 𝑟𝑟 5 𝑟𝑟 5
𝑧𝑧
and that the velocity potential is . Further, determine the streamlines.
𝑟𝑟 3

6. For an incompressible fluid flow, two components of velocity (𝑢𝑢, 𝑣𝑣, 𝑤𝑤) are given by
𝑢𝑢 = 𝑥𝑥 2 + 2𝑦𝑦 2 + 3𝑧𝑧 2 , 𝑣𝑣 = 𝑥𝑥 2 𝑦𝑦 − 𝑦𝑦 2 𝑧𝑧 + 𝑧𝑧𝑧𝑧. Determine the third components 𝑤𝑤 so
that they satisfy the equation of continuity. Also find the 𝑧𝑧 −components of
acceleration.
7. For a two-dimensional potential flow, the velocity potential is given by 𝜙𝜙 = 𝑥𝑥 2 𝑦𝑦 −
1
𝑥𝑥𝑦𝑦 2 + (𝑥𝑥 3 − 𝑦𝑦 3 ). Determine the velocity components along the directions 𝑥𝑥 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑦𝑦.
3

Also, determine the stream function 𝜓𝜓 and check whether 𝜙𝜙 represents a possible
case of flow or not.
8. A velocity potential in two-dimensional fluid flow is given by 𝜙𝜙(𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦) = 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 + 𝑥𝑥 2 − 𝑦𝑦 2 .
Find the stream function for this flow.
𝜆𝜆(−𝑦𝑦𝚤𝚤̂ +𝑥𝑥𝚥𝚥̂ )
9. Show that 𝑞𝑞⃗ = 𝑥𝑥 2 +𝑦𝑦 2
, (𝜆𝜆 = 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐) is a possible incompressible fluid motion.

Determine the streamlines. Is the kind of the motion potential? If yes, then find the
velocity potential.
10. The velocity components of an incompressible fluid in spherical polar coordinates
(𝑟𝑟, 𝜃𝜃, 𝜓𝜓) are (2𝑀𝑀𝑟𝑟 −3 cos 𝜃𝜃 , 𝑀𝑀𝑟𝑟 −2 sin 𝜃𝜃 , 0), where M is a constant. Show that the velocity is

By Avinash Singh (Ex IES, B.Tech IITR) 1|Page

 of the potential kind. Find the velocity potential and the equations of the
streamlines. (10, 2022)

Equation of Motion

𝜇𝜇
1. An infinite mass of fluid is acted on by a force 3 per unit mass directed to the origin.
𝑟𝑟 2

If initially the fluid is at rest and there is a cavity in the form of the sphere 𝑟𝑟 = 𝐶𝐶 in
1
5
2 2
it, show that the cavity will be filled up after an interval of time �5𝜇𝜇� 𝐶𝐶 4 .

2. A stream is rushing form a boiler through a conical pipe, the diameters of the ends of
which are 𝐷𝐷 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑑𝑑. If 𝑉𝑉 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑣𝑣 be the corresponding velocities of the stream and if the
motion is assumed to steady and diverging from the vertex of the cone, then prove
𝑢𝑢2 −𝑣𝑣2
𝑣𝑣 𝐷𝐷 2
that = 𝑑𝑑2 𝑒𝑒 2𝐾𝐾 where K is the pressure divided by the density and is constant.
𝑉𝑉

3. A sphere of radius 𝑅𝑅, whose centre is at rest, vibrates radially in an infinite

incompressible fluid of density 𝜌𝜌, which is at rest at infinity. If the pressure at
1 𝑑𝑑 2 𝑅𝑅2 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 2
infinity is 𝛱𝛱, so that the pressure at time 𝑡𝑡 is 𝛱𝛱 + 𝜌𝜌 � 𝑑𝑑𝑡𝑡 2 + � � �
2 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

Sources and Sinks

1. Let the fluid fills the region 𝑥𝑥 ≥ 0 (right half of 2d plane). Let a source 𝛼𝛼 be (0, 𝑦𝑦1 )
and equal sink at (0, 𝑦𝑦2 ), 𝑦𝑦1 > 𝑦𝑦2 . Let the pressure be same as pressure at infinity
𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝛼𝛼 2 (𝑦𝑦1 −𝑦𝑦2 )2
i.e., 𝑃𝑃0 . Show that the resultant pressure on the boundary (y axis) is , 𝜌𝜌
2 𝑦𝑦1 𝑦𝑦2 (𝑦𝑦1 +𝑦𝑦2 )

being the density of the fluid.

2. Two sources, each of strength m are placed at the point (– 𝑎𝑎, 0), (𝑎𝑎, 0) and a sink of
strength 2m is at the origin. Show that the stream lines are the curves (𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 )2 =
𝑎𝑎2 (𝑥𝑥 2 − 𝑦𝑦 2 + 𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆) where 𝜆𝜆 is a variable parameter. Show also that the fluid speed at
�2𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑎 2 �
any point is (𝑟𝑟1 𝑟𝑟2 𝑟𝑟3 )
𝑤𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑟𝑟1 , 𝑟𝑟2 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑟𝑟3 are the distance of the points from the source

and the sink.

3. A simple source of strength m is fixed at the origin O in a uniform stream of
incompressible fluid moving with velocity 𝑈𝑈𝚤𝚤⃗. Show that the velocity potential 𝜙𝜙 at
𝑚𝑚
any point P of the stream is − 𝑈𝑈𝑈𝑈 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝜃𝜃 𝑤𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂 = 𝑟𝑟 and 𝜃𝜃 is the angle which 𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂
𝑟𝑟

makes with the direction 𝚤𝚤⃗ . Find the differential equation of the streamlines and
show that they lie on the surfaces 𝑈𝑈𝑟𝑟 2 sin2 𝜃𝜃 − 2𝑚𝑚 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝜃𝜃 = 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐.
4. What arrangement of sources and sinks can have the velocity potential 𝑤𝑤 =
𝑎𝑎 2
ln �𝑧𝑧 −
𝑧𝑧
�? Draw the corresponding sketch of the streamlines and prove that the two

of them subdivide into the circle 𝑟𝑟 = 𝑎𝑎 and the axis of y.

By Avinash Singh (Ex IES, B.Tech IITR) 2|Page

5. Show that for the complex potential tan−1 𝑧𝑧, the streamlines and equipotential curves
are circles. Find the velocity at any point and check the singularity at 𝑧𝑧 = ±𝑖𝑖.
6. Two sources of strength 𝑚𝑚/2 are placed at (±𝑎𝑎, 0). Show that at any point on the
circle 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 = 𝑎𝑎2 , the velocity is parallel to y-axis and is inversely proportional to y.

Vortex Motion

1. In an incompressible fluid the vorticity at every point is constant in magnitude and

direction; show that the components of velocity 𝑢𝑢, 𝑣𝑣, 𝑤𝑤 are solution of Laplace’s
equation.
2. When a pair of equal and opposite rectilinear vortices is situated in a long circle
cylinder at equal distance from its axis, show that the path of each vortex is given by
the equation (𝑟𝑟 2 sin2 𝜃𝜃 − 𝑏𝑏 2 )(𝑟𝑟 2 − 𝑎𝑎2 )2 = 4𝑎𝑎2 𝑏𝑏 2 𝑟𝑟 2 sin2 𝜃𝜃, 𝜃𝜃 being measured from the
line through the centre perpendicular to the joint of the vortices.
3. An infinite row of the equidistant rectilinear vortices are at distance ′𝑎𝑎′ apart. The
vortices are of the same numerical strength K but they are alternately of opposite
signs. Find the Complex function that determines the velocity potential and the
stream function.
4. Prove that the necessary and sufficient conditions that the vortex lines may be at
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕
right angles to the stream lines are 𝑢𝑢, 𝑣𝑣, 𝑚𝑚 = 𝜇𝜇 � , , � where 𝜇𝜇 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝜙𝜙 are
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕

function of 𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦, 𝑧𝑧, 𝑡𝑡 .

5. If 𝑛𝑛 rectilinear vortices of the same strength 𝐾𝐾 are symmetrically arranged as
generators of a circular cylinder of radius 𝑎𝑎 in an infinite liquid, prove that the
8𝜋𝜋2 𝑎𝑎 3
vortices will move round the cylinder uniformly in time (𝑛𝑛−1)𝐾𝐾
. Find the velocity at

any point of the liquid.

2𝑥𝑥 2𝑦𝑦 2𝑧𝑧
6. Does a fluid with velocity 𝑞𝑞⃗ = �𝑧𝑧 − , 2𝑦𝑦 − 3𝑧𝑧 − , 𝑥𝑥 − 3𝑦𝑦 − � possess vorticity,
𝑟𝑟 𝑟𝑟 𝑟𝑟

where 𝑞𝑞⃗(𝑢𝑢, 𝑣𝑣, 𝑤𝑤) is the velocity in the Cartesian frame 𝑟𝑟⃗(𝑥𝑥, 𝑦𝑦, 𝑧𝑧) and 𝑟𝑟 2 = 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 + 𝑧𝑧 2
? What is the circulation in the circle 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 = 9, 𝑧𝑧 = 0 ?
7. Two point vortices each of strength 𝑘𝑘 are situated at (±𝑎𝑎, 0) and a point vortex of
𝑘𝑘
strength − is situated at the origin. Show that the fluid motion is stationary and
2

also find the equations of streamlines. If the streamlines, which pass through the
stagnation points, meet the 𝑥𝑥 − 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 at (±𝑏𝑏, 0), then show that 3√3 (𝑏𝑏 2 − 𝑎𝑎2 )2 = 16𝑎𝑎3 𝑏𝑏.
(20, 2022)
𝑧𝑧−𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖
8. Verify that 𝑤𝑤 = 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 log � � is the complex potential of a steady flow of fluid about a
𝑧𝑧+𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖

circular cylinder, where the plane 𝑦𝑦 = 0 is a rigid boundary. Find also the force
exerted by the fluid on unit length of the cylinder. (20, 2022)

Motion of Cylinder and Sphere

By Avinash Singh (Ex IES, B.Tech IITR) 3|Page

1. A rigid sphere of radius a is placed in a stream of fluid whose velocity in the
undisturbed state is V. Determine the velocity of the fluid at any point of the
disturbed stream.
2. Consider a uniform flow 𝑈𝑈0 in the positive x- direction. A cylinder of radius 𝑎𝑎 is
located at the origin. Find the stream function and the velocity potential. Find also
the stagnation points.
3. The space between two concentric spherical shells of radii 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏 (𝑎𝑎 < 𝑏𝑏) is filled with a
liquid of density 𝜌𝜌. If the shells are set in motion, the inner one with velocity U in the
x-direction and the outer one with velocity V in the y-direction, then show that the
initial motion of the liquid is given by velocity potential 𝜙𝜙 =
1 1
�𝑎𝑎 3 𝑈𝑈 �1 + 𝑏𝑏3 𝑟𝑟 −3 𝑥𝑥�− 𝑏𝑏3 𝑉𝑉�1 + 𝑎𝑎3 𝑟𝑟 −3 𝑦𝑦��
2
𝑏𝑏3 −𝑎𝑎3
2
𝑤𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑟𝑟 2 = 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 + 𝑧𝑧 2 , the coordinate being

rectangular. Evaluate the velocity at any point of the liquid.

Navier-Stokes equation

1. Find Navier-Stokes equation for steady laminar flow of a viscous incompressible fluid
between two infinite parallel plates.



By Avinash Singh (Ex IES, B.Tech IITR) 4|Page