Continuity Equation — MH-CET Physics MCQs with Solutions
Free MH-CET Physics Continuity Equation MCQs with step-by-step solutions (27 questions). Part of Mechanical Properties of Fluids. Practise online on Prepizo — no login needed.
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Questions with solutions
Q1 — Continuity Equation · easy · theory
The equation of continuity for the steady flow of an incompressible fluid, $A_1 v_1 = A_2 v_2$, is a direct consequence of the conservation of:
A. Angular momentum
B. Energy
C. Momentum
D. Mass ✓ Correct
Solution: In steady flow the mass entering any section per second must equal the mass leaving it, giving $\rho A v = $ constant. For an incompressible fluid $\rho$ cancels, leaving $Av = $ constant.
Q2 — Continuity Equation · easy · theory
Water flows through a pipe whose cross-sectional area is halved at a constriction. The speed of flow at the constriction:
A. Doubles ✓ Correct
B. Halves
C. Becomes four times
D. Remains the same
Solution: By continuity $Av = $ constant, so $v \propto \dfrac{1}{A}$. Halving the area doubles the speed.
Q3 — Continuity Equation · medium · numerical
The diameter of a pipe is reduced to half at a narrow section. The speed of the liquid at that section becomes:
A. $4$ times ✓ Correct
B. Half
C. One-fourth
D. $2$ times
Solution: Area $\propto d^2$, so halving the diameter reduces the area to one-fourth. Since $v \propto \dfrac{1}{A}$, the speed becomes $4$ times.
Q4 — Continuity Equation · easy · numerical
Water enters a pipe of cross-section $4\text{ cm}^2$ at $2\text{ m/s}$ and leaves through a section of area $2\text{ cm}^2$. The exit speed is:
A. $4\text{ m/s}$ ✓ Correct
B. $1\text{ m/s}$
C. $2\text{ m/s}$
D. $8\text{ m/s}$
Solution: $A_1 v_1 = A_2 v_2 \Rightarrow 4 \times 2 = 2 \times v_2 \Rightarrow v_2 = 4\text{ m/s}$.
Q5 — Continuity Equation · easy · theory
The volume flow rate of a liquid of speed $v$ through a pipe of cross-sectional area $A$ is given by:
A. $A v^2$
B. $\dfrac{v}{A}$
C. $Av$ ✓ Correct
D. $\dfrac{A}{v}$
Solution: In one second the liquid advances a distance $v$, sweeping out a cylinder of volume $Av$. Its SI unit is $\text{m}^3/\text{s}$.
Q6 — Continuity Equation · easy · numerical
Water flows at $0.02\text{ m}^3/\text{s}$ through a pipe of cross-sectional area $0.01\text{ m}^2$. The speed of flow is:
A. $0.5\text{ m/s}$
B. $0.0002\text{ m/s}$
C. $20\text{ m/s}$
D. $2\text{ m/s}$ ✓ Correct
Solution: $v = \dfrac{Q}{A} = \dfrac{0.02}{0.01} = 2\text{ m/s}$.
Q7 — Continuity Equation · medium · numerical
Water flows through two sections of a pipe whose radii are in the ratio $1 : 2$. The ratio of the flow speeds at those sections is:
A. $4 : 1$ ✓ Correct
B. $2 : 1$
C. $1 : 4$
D. $1 : 2$
Solution: Area $\propto r^2$, so the areas are in the ratio $1 : 4$. Since $v \propto \dfrac{1}{A}$, the speeds are in the ratio $4 : 1$ — fastest in the narrow section.
Q8 — Continuity Equation · easy · theory
A streamline in a flowing fluid is defined as a curve such that:
A. It separates laminar flow from turbulent flow
B. The fluid speed is constant along it
C. The fluid pressure is constant along it
D. The tangent at every point gives the direction of fluid velocity there ✓ Correct
Solution: By construction, the velocity vector of the fluid element at a point is tangential to the streamline passing through that point.
Q9 — Continuity Equation · medium · theory
Two streamlines in a steady flow can never intersect because:
A. The fluid would then need two different velocities at the same point ✓ Correct
B. The pressure would become infinite at the crossing point
C. The density would change at that point
D. The flow would become incompressible
Solution: At an intersection the tangent — and hence the velocity — would be ambiguous. Since a fluid element has one definite velocity at a point in steady flow, streamlines cannot cross.
Q10 — Continuity Equation · easy · theory
The flow of a liquid through a pipe is regarded as turbulent if the Reynolds number $R_e$ is:
A. Between $1000$ and $2000$
B. Exactly zero
C. Greater than $2000$ ✓ Correct
D. Less than $1000$
Solution: Flow is laminar for $R_e < 1000$, unstable in the transition band $1000 < R_e < 2000$, and fully turbulent for $R_e > 2000$.
Q11 — Continuity Equation · medium · theory
The Reynolds number for a fluid of density $\rho$ and viscosity $\eta$ flowing with speed $v$ through a tube of diameter $D$ is:
A. $\dfrac{\rho v D}{\eta}$ ✓ Correct
B. $\dfrac{\eta v D}{\rho}$
C. $\dfrac{\rho \eta}{v D}$
D. $\dfrac{\rho v}{\eta D}$
Solution: $R_e = \dfrac{\rho v D}{\eta}$ compares inertial to viscous forces. It is a pure number with no units.
Q12 — Continuity Equation · easy · theory
The Reynolds number is a:
A. Quantity measured in $\text{m/s}$
B. Quantity measured in $\text{kg/m}^3$
C. Quantity measured in $\text{Pa}\cdot\text{s}$
D. Dimensionless quantity ✓ Correct
Solution: It is the ratio of inertial force to viscous force, so all dimensions cancel and it is a pure number.
Q13 — Continuity Equation · easy · theory
The critical velocity of a liquid flowing through a tube is the speed:
A. At which the viscosity becomes zero
B. At which the pressure becomes maximum
C. Above which streamline flow changes to turbulent flow ✓ Correct
D. At which the liquid stops flowing
Solution: Below the critical velocity the flow is orderly and laminar; above it the flow breaks into eddies and becomes turbulent.
Q14 — Continuity Equation · easy · theory
The mass flow rate of a fluid of density $\rho$ through a pipe of area $A$ at speed $v$ is:
A. $\dfrac{A v}{\rho}$
B. $\rho A v^2$
C. $\rho A v$ ✓ Correct
D. $\dfrac{\rho A}{v}$
Solution: Volume flow rate is $Av$, so the mass crossing a section per second is $\rho Av$, measured in $\text{kg/s}$.
Q15 — Continuity Equation · easy · theory
Water emerges faster when the nozzle of a garden hose is partially closed with a thumb because:
A. The viscosity of the water decreases
B. The pressure of the water supply increases
C. Reducing the area increases the speed, by the equation of continuity ✓ Correct
D. The density of the water decreases
Solution: The same volume per second must pass through a smaller opening, so $Av = $ constant forces the exit speed up.
Q16 — Continuity Equation · easy · theory
In the steady flow of an incompressible liquid, the product $Av$ along a tube of flow is:
A. Greatest where the tube is widest
B. Constant at every cross-section ✓ Correct
C. Proportional to the pressure
D. Greatest where the tube is narrowest
Solution: That is precisely the statement of the equation of continuity: the volume flow rate is the same through every section of the tube of flow.
Q17 — Continuity Equation · easy · numerical
Water enters a pipe of area $6\text{ cm}^2$ at $3\text{ m/s}$ and leaves through a section of area $2\text{ cm}^2$. The exit speed is:
A. $9\text{ m/s}$ ✓ Correct
B. $18\text{ m/s}$
C. $1\text{ m/s}$
D. $4.5\text{ m/s}$
Solution: $A_1v_1 = A_2v_2 \Rightarrow 6 \times 3 = 2 \times v_2 \Rightarrow v_2 = 9\text{ m/s}$.
Q18 — Continuity Equation · easy · numerical
Water flows at a rate of $0.05\text{ m}^3/\text{s}$ through a pipe of cross-sectional area $0.005\text{ m}^2$. The flow speed is:
A. $2.5\text{ m/s}$
B. $0.1\text{ m/s}$
C. $10\text{ m/s}$ ✓ Correct
D. $100\text{ m/s}$
Solution: $v = \dfrac{Q}{A} = \dfrac{0.05}{0.005} = 10\text{ m/s}$.
Q19 — Continuity Equation · medium · numerical
Water flowing at $1\text{ m/s}$ in a pipe of diameter $4\text{ cm}$ enters a narrow section of diameter $2\text{ cm}$. The speed in the narrow section is:
A. $8\text{ m/s}$
B. $4\text{ m/s}$ ✓ Correct
C. $2\text{ m/s}$
D. $0.5\text{ m/s}$
Solution: Area $\propto d^2$, so the area falls to one-fourth and the speed rises four times: $v_2 = 4\text{ m/s}$.
Q20 — Continuity Equation · medium · numerical
Two sections of a pipe have radii in the ratio $2 : 3$. The ratio of the flow speeds in them is:
A. $4 : 9$
B. $9 : 4$ ✓ Correct
C. $3 : 2$
D. $2 : 3$
Solution: Areas are in the ratio $4 : 9$, and since $v \propto \dfrac{1}{A}$, the speeds are in the ratio $9 : 4$.
Q21 — Continuity Equation · easy · numerical
Water enters a pipe of area $8\text{ cm}^2$ at $5\text{ m/s}$ and leaves through a section of area $4\text{ cm}^2$. The exit speed is:
A. $20\text{ m/s}$
B. $5\text{ m/s}$
C. $2.5\text{ m/s}$
D. $10\text{ m/s}$ ✓ Correct
Solution: $A_1v_1 = A_2v_2 \Rightarrow 8 \times 5 = 4 \times v_2 \Rightarrow v_2 = 10\text{ m/s}$.
Q22 — Continuity Equation · easy · numerical
Water flows at $0.12\text{ m}^3/\text{s}$ through a pipe of cross-sectional area $0.03\text{ m}^2$. The flow speed is:
A. $0.25\text{ m/s}$
B. $0.0036\text{ m/s}$
C. $40\text{ m/s}$
D. $4\text{ m/s}$ ✓ Correct
Solution: $v = \dfrac{Q}{A} = \dfrac{0.12}{0.03} = 4\text{ m/s}$.
Q23 — Continuity Equation · medium · numerical
Water flowing at $2\text{ m/s}$ in a pipe of diameter $6\text{ cm}$ enters a section of diameter $3\text{ cm}$. Its speed there is:
A. $4\text{ m/s}$
B. $1\text{ m/s}$
C. $8\text{ m/s}$ ✓ Correct
D. $16\text{ m/s}$
Solution: Halving the diameter reduces the area to one-fourth, so the speed rises four times: $v_2 = 4 \times 2 = 8\text{ m/s}$.
Q24 — Continuity Equation · medium · numerical
Two sections of a pipe have radii in the ratio $1 : 3$. The ratio of the flow speeds in them is:
A. $3 : 1$
B. $9 : 1$ ✓ Correct
C. $1 : 3$
D. $1 : 9$
Solution: Areas are in the ratio $1 : 9$, and since $v \propto \dfrac{1}{A}$, the speeds are in the ratio $9 : 1$.
Q25 — Continuity Equation · medium · numerical
Water of density $1000\text{ kg/m}^3$ flows at $5\text{ m/s}$ through a pipe of area $0.002\text{ m}^2$. The mass flow rate is:
A. $100\text{ kg/s}$
B. $10\text{ kg/s}$ ✓ Correct
C. $1\text{ kg/s}$
D. $0.01\text{ kg/s}$
Solution: Mass flow rate $= \rho A v = 1000 \times 0.002 \times 5 = 10\text{ kg/s}$.
Q26 — Continuity Equation · easy · numerical
Water flows at $3\text{ m/s}$ through a pipe of cross-sectional area $0.01\text{ m}^2$. The volume flow rate is:
A. $3\text{ m}^3/\text{s}$
B. $300\text{ m}^3/\text{s}$
C. $0.0033\text{ m}^3/\text{s}$
D. $0.03\text{ m}^3/\text{s}$ ✓ Correct
Solution: $Q = Av = 0.01 \times 3 = 0.03\text{ m}^3/\text{s}$.
Q27 — Continuity Equation · medium · numerical
The cross-sectional areas of two sections of a pipe are in the ratio $3 : 1$. If the speed in the wider section is $2\text{ m/s}$, the speed in the narrower section is:
A. $3\text{ m/s}$
B. $6\text{ m/s}$ ✓ Correct
C. $18\text{ m/s}$
D. $0.67\text{ m/s}$
Solution: By continuity $A_1v_1 = A_2v_2$, so $v_2 = 2 \times \dfrac{3}{1} = 6\text{ m/s}$.