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Mechanical Properties of Fluids appeared 31 times across 3 years — 3.6% of Physics. This question is from Surface Tension and Viscosity.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 9 14 8 31

Consider following statements: A. Surface tension arises due to extra energy of the molecules at the interior as compared to the molecules at the surface, of a liquid. B. As the temperature of liquid rises, the coefficient of viscosity increases. C. As the temperature of gas increases, the coefficient of viscosity increases. D. The onset of turbulence is determined by Reynold's number. E. In a steady flow two stream lines never intersect. Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Solution & Explanation

Core Logic

Let's audit each fluid mechanics assertion:

Statement A: Incorrect. Surface tension arises because surface molecules possess higher potential energy compared to interior bulk molecules due to net cohesive forces pulling inward.

Statement B: Incorrect. With rising temperatures, cohesive forces in liquids weaken, causing viscosity to decrease.

Statement C: Correct. In gases, viscosity is governed by molecular collisions. Higher temperature leads to increased thermal activity and momentum exchange, increasing viscosity.

Statement D: Correct. Critical velocity and turbulence parameters are completely defined by the dimensionless Reynolds number.

Statement E: Correct. If streamlines intersected, a fluid particle at that spatial node would have two distinct velocity directions, violating steady-state constraints.

Step 1: Final Conclusion

Statements C, D, and E are correct, leading to option (2).

Pattern Recognition

Contrast Liquid vs Gas viscosity trends under temperature increments: Liquids down (intermolecular bounds weaken), Gases up (random thermal diffusion and collision rates escalate).

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Mechanical Properties of Fluids

Reference Study Guides

More Mechanical Properties of Fluids Previous-Year Questions — Page 2

Q45 jee_main_2026_23_january_evening Viscosity and Terminal Velocity
A small metallic sphere of diameter 2 mm and density 10.5 g/cm³ is dropped in glycerine having viscosity 10 Poise and density 1.5 g/cm³ respectively. The terminal velocity attained by the sphere is ____ cm/s. (π = (22)/(7) and g = 10 m/s²)
  • A. 2.0
  • B. 1.0
  • C. 3.0
  • D. 1.5

Solution

Related Formula
VT = (2r² g)/(9η) (ρb - ρ)
Core Logic

Given data: Radius r = 1 mm = 0.1 cm. Density of sphere ρb = 10.5 g/cm³. Density of liquid ρ = 1.5 g/cm³. Viscosity η = 10 Poise = 10 g/cm· s (since 1 Poise = 1 CGS unit of viscosity). Gravity g = 10 m/s² = 1000 cm/s² (Wait, standard gravity for CGS is 980, but the problem specifies g = 10 m/s² = 1000 cm/s²).

Step 1: Calculation in CGS Units
VT = (2)/(9) · ((0.1)² × 1000)/((10)) · (10.5 - 1.5) VT = (2)/(9) · (0.01 × 1000)/(10) · (9) VT = 2 · (10)/(10) · 1 VT = 2 cm/s
Pattern Recognition

Watch the units closely. Poise is the CGS unit for viscosity, so converting all values to CGS (cm, g, s) makes the calculation direct and prevents factor-of-10 errors common when mixing SI and CGS.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Mechanical Properties of Fluids

Q50 jee_main_2026_24_january_morning Terminal Velocity
Sixty four rain drops of radius 1 mm each falling down with a terminal velocity of 10 cm/s coalesce to form a bigger drop. The terminal velocity of bigger drop is ____ cm/s.
Numerical Answer. Answer: 160 to 160

Solution

Related Formula
VT = (2r² g)/(9η) (ρ - σ)

VT ∝ r²

Core Logic

Coalescing rain drops volume conservation
Coalescing rain drops volume conservation

When 64 small drops (radius R₁) coalesce to form a bigger drop (radius R₂), mass and volume are conserved.

64 ((4)/(3) π R₁³) = (4)/(3) π R₂³ R₂³ = 64 R₁³ R₂ = 4 R₁

Coalescing rain drops volume conservation
Coalescing rain drops volume conservation

Step 1: Terminal Velocity Ratio

Since terminal velocity VT ∝ R²:

((VT)₁)/((VT)₂) = ( (R₁)/(R₂) )² = ( (1)/(4) )² = (1)/(16)

Given (VT)₁ = 10 cm/s:

(10)/((VT)₂) = (1)/(16) (VT)₂ = 160 cm/s
Pattern Recognition

When N identical drops coalesce, the new radius is N1/3 times the old radius. Consequently, the new terminal velocity scales precisely as N2/3. For N=64, 642/3 = 16. Just multiply initial v by 16.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Mechanical Properties of Fluids

Q37 jee_main_2026_24_january_evening Buoyancy and Archimedes Principle
A cubical block of density ρb = 600 kg/m³ floats in a liquid of density ρₑ = 900 kg/m³ . If the height of block is H = 8.0 cm then height of the submerged part is ____ cm.
  • A. 7.3
  • B. 4.3
  • C. 6.3
  • D. 5.3

Solution

Related Formula
Fbuoyancy = Mg ρliquid Vsubmerged g = ρblock Vtotal g
Core Logic

For a floating block, the weight of the block equals the buoyant force exerted by the liquid.

M g = Fb

ρb × A × H × g = ρₑ × A × h × g
Step 1: Calculation
600 × 8 cm = 900 × h h = (600 × 8)/(900) h = (16)/(3) cm h ≈ 5.33 cm
Pattern Recognition

Submerged fraction is exactly the ratio of densities: (h)/(H) = ρobjectρfluid.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Mechanical Properties of Fluids

Q50 jee_main_2026_24_january_evening Surface Tension and Work Done
A soap bubble of surface tension 0.04 N/m is blown to a diameter of 7 cm. If (15000 - x) μJ of work is done in blowing it further to make its diameter 14 cm, then the value of x is ____. (π = 2 2 / 7)
Numerical Answer. Answer: 11304 to 11304

Solution

Related Formula
W = Δ U = S · Δ A

For a soap bubble with two surfaces:

Δ A = 2 × 4π (r₂² - r₁²)
Core Logic

Given: S = 0.04 N/m Initial diameter = 7 cm r₁ = 3.5 cm = 3.5 × 10⁻² m Final diameter = 14 cm r₂ = 7 cm = 7 × 10⁻² m

W = S × (8π r₂² - 8π r₁²)
Step 1: Compute the Work Done
W = 0.04 × 8π ((7²) - (3.5²)) × 10⁻⁴ W = 0.04 × 8 × (22)/(7) × (49 - 12.25) × 10⁻⁴ W = 0.04 × 2 × (22)/(7) × (147) × 10⁻⁴ × 4

Wait, the solution uses an alternate factorizing logic: 8π(49 - 12.25) = 8π(36.75) = 294π. Let's follow the PDF strictly:

W = 0.04 × 2 × (22)/(7) × 147 × 10⁻⁴ W = 3696 × 10⁻⁶ J = 3696
Step 2: Solve for x
3696 = 15000 - x x = 15000 - 3696 x = 11304
Pattern Recognition

A soap bubble has two free surfaces; always multiply area changes by 2 (W = 8π S Δ r²). Failing to account for both surfaces yields exactly half the answer, acting as a common trap.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Mechanical Properties of Fluids

Q4 jee_main_2025_02_april_evening Surface Tension and Surface Energy
Two water drops each of radius r coalesce to form a bigger drop. If T is the surface tension, the surface energy released in this process is:
  • A. 4π r² T [2 - 2(2)/(3)]
  • B. 4π r² T [2 - 2(1)/(3)]
  • C. 4π r² T [1 + √(2)]
  • D. 4π r² T [√(2) - 1]

Solution

Related Formula
  • Surface Energy:
U = T · A = T · (4π R²)
  • Conservation of Volume during coalescence of drops:
2 × ((4)/(3)π r³) = (4)/(3)π R³
Core Logic

When two drops of radius r coalesce into a single larger drop of radius R, volume is conserved:

R³ = 2r³ R = 21/3 r
  • Initial surface area of the two separate drops:
Aᵢ = 2 × 4π r² = 8π r²
  • Final surface area of the combined single drop:
Af = 4π R² = 4π (21/3 r)² = 4π r² 22/3
  • Surface energy released:
Δ E = Uᵢ - Uf = T(Aᵢ - Af) Δ E = T ( 8π r² - 4π r² 22/3 ) = 4π r² T [ 2 - 22/3 ]
Pattern Recognition

Sees: Coalescence of N identical drops. Trap: Forgetting to conserve volume first, or confusing initial and final surface areas. Shortcut: Energy released when N drops coalesce into one big drop is:

Δ E = 4π r² T [ N - N2/3 ]

Here, substituting N = 2 directly gives 4π r² T [ 2 - 22/3 ].

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Mechanical Properties of Fluids

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