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ERIC Number: EJ1321459
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Oct
Pages: 4
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0031-921X
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Teach Poiseuille First -- A Call for a Paradigm Shift in Fluid Dynamics Education
Moser, Bradley
Physics Teacher, v59 n7 p552-555 Oct 2021
A classic, life science-themed fluid dynamics scenario is blood flow through a constriction. Physics teachers traditionally ask students if the pressure experienced by the blood in the constriction is greater, lesser, or the same as before the constriction. The conventional approach to resolving this question calls upon the equation of continuity, as well as the Bernoulli equation. Biological systems, however, experience a resistance to flow, and a consequential pressure drop, that is often better described by Poiseuille's law. Within this apparent conflict, which approach is correct? This paper argues that Poiseuille's law is the more appropriate choice for most biological examples and encourages a Poiseuille-first approach to teaching fluid dynamics in classes designed for life science majors.
American Association of Physics Teachers. One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740. Tel: 301-209-3300; Fax: 301-209-0845; e-mail: pubs@aapt.org; Web site: http://aapt.scitation.org/journal/pte
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A