Question 15.16: Determine the terminal velocity of 0.2 mm diameter rain drop......

Given data:

Diameter of rain drops                            D=0.2 \mathrm{~mm}=0.2 \times 10^{-3} \mathrm{~m}

Density of drop                                          ρ = 1.2 kg/m³

Dynamic viscosity                                    \mu=1.1 \times 10^{-5} \mathrm{~N}-\mathrm{s} / \mathrm{m}^2

Weight of rain drop is W = Density x g x Volume of drop

=\rho \times g \times \frac{\pi}{6} D^3

=1.2 \times 9.81 \times \frac{\pi}{6}\left(0.2 \times 10^{-3}\right)^3=4.93 \times 10^{-11} \mathrm{~N}

Let the terminal velocity of rain drop be U.
The drag force on the rain drop is found from Stokes’ formula (Eq. (15.15)) as

F_{D}=3\pi\mu D U_{\infty}      (15.15)

F_D=3 \pi \mu D U

=3 \pi \times 1.1 \times 10^{-5} \times 0.2 \times 10^{-3} \times U=2.073 \times 10^{-8} U \mathrm{~N}

At terminal velocity, the drag force must be same as the weight of the drop. Thus,

F_D=W

or                                    2.073 \times 10^{-8} U=4.93 \times 10^{-11}

or                                  U=\frac{4.93 \times 10^{-11}}{2.073 \times 10^{-8}}=0.00238 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}

The Reynolds number is

R e=\frac{\rho U D}{\mu}=\frac{1.22 \times 0.00238 \times 0.2 \times 10^{-3}}{1.1 \times 10^{-5}}=0.05

Since Re < 1, Stokes’ formula for drag force is valid.