What is Fluid Friction?
Fluid friction is the resistance force experienced by an object moving through a fluid (liquid or gas). This friction arises due to the interaction between the moving object and the fluid’s molecules, leading to energy loss and resistance to motion. The amount of fluid friction depends on several factors, including the nature of the fluid, its viscosity, the shape of the object, and the speed of movement.
The movement of molecules is governed by two types of forces which are present between the molecules of the substance itself and between the substance and the other material in contact.
Fluid Friction
Fluid friction occurs between fluid layers that are moving relative to each other. This internal resistance to flow is called viscosity or viscous drag or fluid friction. In normal terms, the viscosity of a fluid is described as its “thickness” of the fluid. Thus, water is “thin”, having a lower viscosity, while honey is “thick”, having a higher viscosity. The less viscous the fluid, the greater its ease of deformation or movement.
All real fluids (except superfluids) offer some resistance to shearing and therefore are viscous. Although the term “fluid” includes both the liquid and gas phases, in common usage, “fluid” is often used synonymously with “liquid”. Liquids and gases are called fluids because they can be made to flow or move. In any fluid, the molecules themselves are in constant, random motion, colliding with each other and with the walls of any container. In this article, we will learn in detail about fluid friction, its properties, example and more.