Author Question: Discuss the difference between laminar flow and turbulent flow. Provide an example of each type and ... (Read 54 times)

Mollykgkg · **on:** Jul 14, 2018

Discuss the difference between laminar flow and turbulent flow. Provide an example of each type and how stream velocity may influence flow.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Imagine you are an astronaut, landing on an alien world. Looking out your spacecraft window, you see a world that looks very much like Earth. You notice a disappearing stream and two sinkholes.

Based on your training in Earth science, make a prediction about the rock type you would find in the area where you have landed, and justify your prediction. Make a second prediction about the composition of the atmosphere on the new planet.
What will be an ideal response?

anoriega3 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 14, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: Laminar flow occurs when water flows in a roughly straight-line path that parallels the stream channel. By comparison, turbulent flow is erratic and often appears as a swirling motion. An example of laminar flow is a slowly moving stream, whereas an example of turbulent flow is mountain rapids. As the velocity of the stream increases, the flow becomes more turbulent.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: Disappearing streams and potholes are typical landscape features in karst topography on Earth, and karst topography forms on Earth where groundwater dissolves limestone. Groundwater can accomplish this task because of carbonic acid, which can result from the interaction of rain with carbon dioxide in the air. So the air of the new planet may contain carbon dioxide or a similar acid (once dissolved in water) as well as water vapor. The rock type may be limestone, or a similarly soluble rock typelike rock salt or rock gypsum, perhaps.