MCAT Physical : Fluids and Gases
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for MCAT Physical
All MCAT Physical Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #4 : Bernoulli's Equation
A researcher is observing a fluid flowing in a pipe. He measures the velocity of the flow at both ends of the pipe and wants to know the relative pressures each end. Which of the following equations will be most useful to him?
Bernoulli’s equation
Poiseuille’s law
Continuity equation
Doppler effect
Bernoulli’s equation
The question states that the researcher wants to know the relationship between velocity and pressure. Recall that the Bernoulli equation states this relationship for a fluid flowing through a pipe; therefore, the most appropriate principle for the researcher would be Bernoulli’s equation.
Poiseuille’s law and the continuity equation are both fluid mechanics principles, but neither of them state a relationship between velocity and pressure. Poiseuille’s law states the relationship between flow resistance and flow rate for a fluid flowing through a pipe, whereas the continuity equation states the relationship between velocity of the fluid and the area of the pipe. The Doppler effect is irrelevant to this question because it relates changes in frequency of a wave relative to the observer and the wave source; it is not a fluid mechanics principle.
Bernoulli equation:
Poiseulle's law:
Continuity equation:
Doppler effect:
Example Question #1 : Bernoulli's Equation
A fluid is flowing through a pipe from left to right. If you increase the vertical height of the left end, what will happen to the pressure and velocity of the fluid at the left end?
Bernoulli’s equation:
Pressure and velocity will decrease
Pressure will increase but velocity will decrease
The relative changes to pressure and velocity cannot be determined from the given information
Pressure and velocity will remain constant
The relative changes to pressure and velocity cannot be determined from the given information
To answer this question you need to know the Bernoulli equation:
In the equation, 
The question states that the vertical height, 
This means that the sum of pressure and velocity must decrease; however, we do not have enough information to determine the kinds of changes that will occur in each individual term. It is possible that only one term decreases, while the other term stays constant, or it is possible that both terms decrease; therefore, without more information, we cannot determine the relative changes to pressure and velocity.
Example Question #6 : Bernoulli's Equation
Due to plaque buildup, a small part of a patient’s aorta has a smaller radius than a regular, healthy aorta. Which of the following is true regarding the unhealthy and healthy aorta?
Bernoulli's equation:
Continuity equation:
Flow in the clogged part of the unhealthy aorta will have a lower velocity and lower pressure than in a healthy aorta
Flow in the clogged part of the unhealthy aorta will have a higher velocity and higher pressure than in a healthy aorta
Flow in the clogged part of the unhealthy aorta will have a higher velocity and lower pressure than in a healthy aorta
Flow in the clogged part of the unhealthy aorta will have a lower velocity and higher pressure than in a healthy aorta
Flow in the clogged part of the unhealthy aorta will have a higher velocity and lower pressure than in a healthy aorta
The question states that a part of the unhealthy aorta has a smaller radius. This means that this portion of the aorta will have a smaller cross-sectional area. To solve this question we need to use both the continuity equation and the Bernoulli equation. The continuity equation is as follows:
The second equation we need to use is the Bernoulli equation:
Here, 
Example Question #1 : Other Flow Principles
A barrel of height 10m is filled with water to a height of 5m. If a hole is punctured 2m above the bottom of the barrel, what is the velocity of the water leaving the barrel?
To answer this question, we can use Toricelli’s law.
In this case, h is the height of water above the hole. Since the barrel is filled to a height of 5m, and the hole is punctured 2m from the bottom of the barrel, the height of water is 3m.
Example Question #22 : Flow
What causes the lift experienced by the wing of an airplane in level flight?
The difference in air density on the top and bottom surfaces of the wing
The difference in velocity of airflow on the top and bottom surfaces of the wing
The ability to create turbulence on the upper surface of the wing
The "attack angle" of the wing on the air stream
The difference in absolute humidity between the upper and lower surfaces of the wing
The difference in velocity of airflow on the top and bottom surfaces of the wing
Air density is considered to be uniform in Bernoulli's equation, which defines the air pressure on the upper and lower surfaces of an aircraft wing. Likewise, air humidity at any one place in the atmosphere is uniform over the space occupied by the wing. Central to the idea of producing lift is the ability of the wing to avoid turbulence, one reason for de-icing wings before winter takeoffs.
Air is considered to move in bulk during flight. This means that a volume of air that has to travel a longer distance than its twin volume (because the airplane wing split them apart) must speed up to arrive at the same place (the trailing edge of the wing) at the same time as its twin. Velocity is squared in Bernoulli's equation, meaning that small differences in flow velocity between the upper and lower wing surfaces translate to large pressure differences.
Attack angle is an important lift factor, but not in level flight.
Example Question #1 : Other Flow Principles
Diffusion can be defined as the net transfer of molecules down a gradient of differing concentrations. This is a passive and spontaneous process and relies on the random movement of molecules and Brownian motion. Diffusion is an important biological process, especially in the respiratory system where oxygen diffuses from alveoli, the basic unit of lung mechanics, to red blood cells in the capillaries.
Figure 1 depicts this process, showing an alveoli separated from neighboring cells by a capillary with red blood cells. The partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide are given. One such equation used in determining gas exchange is Fick's law, given by:
ΔV = (Area/Thickness) · Dgas · (P1 – P2)
Where ΔV is flow rate and area and thickness refer to the permeable membrane through which the gas passes, in this case, the wall of the avlveoli. P1 and P2 refer to the partial pressures upstream and downstream, respectively. Further, Dgas, the diffusion constant of the gas, is defined as:
Dgas = Solubility / (Molecular Weight)^(1/2)
In higher altitudes, a decrease in which factors of Fick's law can change in order to achieve the same flow rate at lower altitudes.
Area
Solubility
P1
Thickness
Thickness
It should be known that in higher altitudes, the partial pressure of oxygen falls. That is, the partial pressure in the alveoli will fall. Thus, flow rate will decrease, and we will need changes to increase flow rate.
By looking at Fick's equation, we can see that a decrease in thickness can help restore flow rate. Biologically speaking, this is less likely to happen, and more correctly, hemoglobin concentration and binding affinity to oxygen increases; however, this is extraneous information not needed for the MCAT.
Example Question #92 : Fluids And Gases
Diffusion can be defined as the net transfer of molecules down a gradient of differing concentrations. This is a passive and spontaneous process and relies on the random movement of molecules and Brownian motion. Diffusion is an important biological process, especially in the respiratory system where oxygen diffuses from alveoli, the basic unit of lung mechanics, to red blood cells in the capillaries.
Figure 1 depicts this process, showing an alveoli separated from neighboring cells by a capillary with red blood cells. The partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide are given. One such equation used in determining gas exchange is Fick's law, given by:
ΔV = (Area/Thickness) · Dgas · (P1 – P2)
Where ΔV is flow rate and area and thickness refer to the permeable membrane through which the gas passes, in this case, the wall of the avlveoli. P1 and P2 refer to the partial pressures upstream and downstream, respectively. Further, Dgas, the diffusion constant of the gas, is defined as:
Dgas = Solubility / (Molecular Weight)^(1/2)
Conceptually, if alveoli are considered to be perfectly spherical and assuming that its entire surface exchanges gas, which new relationship, introducing the variable, r, the radius of an alveoli, correctly describes Fick's Equation, assuming partial pressures remain constant?
ΔV = πr2/Thickness · Dgas · (P1 – P2)
ΔV = 4πr2/Thickness · Dgas · (P1 – P2)
ΔV = r3/Thickness · Dgas · (P1 – P2)
ΔV = (1/2 · r1/2)/Thickness · Dgas · (P1 – P2)
ΔV = 4πr2/Thickness · Dgas · (P1 – P2)
The quickest approach to this equation is to see what variable in Fick's law might be affected by a change in the radius of an alveoli. Pressure is constant and can be ruled out. The diffusion constant would not be effected by radius (hence it being a constant).
The question stem mentions nothing about a change in thickness, therefore, we are left with area.
The surface area of a sphere is measured by 4πr2 and can be substituted. If you had difficulty remembering how to measure surface area, remember that the area of a circle is πr2 andlogically it follows that the surface area of an entire sphere must be greater due to it being three dimensional.
Example Question #92 : Fluids And Gases
Diffusion can be defined as the net transfer of molecules down a gradient created by differing concentrations of the molecule in different locations. This is a passive, spontaneous process and relies on the random movement of molecules and Brownian motion. Diffusion is an important biological process, especially in the respiratory system where oxygen diffuses from alveoli, the basic units of lung mechanics, to red blood cells in the capillaries.
Figure 1 depicts this process, showing an alveolus separated from neighboring cells by a capillary with red blood cells. The partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide are given. One equation used in determining gas exchange is Fick's law, given by:
In this equation, 
At high altitudes, the partial pressure of oxygen quickly drops while that of carbon dioxide decreases by much less. Given the following table, at what elevation is the pressure gradient of oxygen equal to half that of carbon dioxide, assuming constant capillary partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide of 50mmHg and 40mmHg, respectively?
|
Elevation (m) |
PO2 (mmHg) |
PCO2 (mmHg) |
|
0 |
100 |
50 |
|
1000 |
80 |
40 |
|
2000 |
60 |
30 |
|
3000 |
40 |
20 |
|
4000 |
20 |
10 |
|
5000 |
10 |
0 |
This problem at first may seem straightforward, until you realize that the gradient (or difference in partial pressures of Fick's law) actually changes.
In normal circumstances, capillary pressure would be subtracted from arterial pressure; however, the body operates at a physiologic equilibrium, which essentially has a constant production of CO2 and demand for O2. At a certain point the capillary pressure will be greater than the arterial, and hence the gradient switches to Pcapillary – Parterial from the original Parterial – Pcapillary.
Simple arithmetic done alongside the table margins can quickly arrive to the correct answer. At an elevation of 3000 m, the gradients of oxygen (50 – 40 = 10 mmHg) and carbon dioxide (40 – 20 = 20 mmHg) differ by twofold. It is easy to be confused over a seemingly complicated table, when in reality, this question only asks for basic arithmetic.
Certified Tutor
Certified Tutor
All MCAT Physical Resources
