IIT JEE Physics (1978-2016: 39 Years) Topic-wise Complete Solutions

# Equation of Continuity

## Problems from IIT JEE

Problem (IIT JEE 2008): Statement 1: The stream of water flowing at high speed from a garden hose pipe tends to spread like a fountain when held vertically up, but tends to narrow down when held vertically down.

Statement 2: In any steady flow of an incompressible fluid, the volume flow rate of the fluid remains constant.

1. Statement 1 is true, statement 2 is true; statement 2 is a correct ex- planation for statement 1.
2. Statement 1 is true, statement 2 is true; statement 2 is not a correct explanation for statement 1.
3. Statement 1 is true, statement 2 is false.
4. Statement 1 is false, statement 2 is true.

Solution: The statement 2 is same as the continuity equation, $Av=\text{constant}$, where $A$ is the cross-section area and $v$ is the fluid velocity. When pipe is held vertically up, the energy conservation makes $v$ to decrease as water goes up and hence $A$ increases by continuity equation. It is the other way around when the pipe is held vertically down.