A flow velocity field $\vec{V}: \vec{V}(x, y)$ for a fluid is represented by $\vec{V} = 3 \hat{i} + (5x) \hat{j}$ In the context of the fluid and the flow, which one of the following statements is CORRECT?
To determine whether the fluid is incompressible or compressible and whether the flow is rotational or irrotational, we need to analyze the given velocity field \(\vec{V}(x, y) = 3 \hat{i} + (5x) \hat{j}\).
Check for Incompressibility: A fluid flow is incompressible if the divergence of the velocity field is zero. The divergence in two dimensions is given by:
$\nabla \cdot \vec{V} = \frac{\partial V_x}{\partial x} + \frac{\partial V_y}{\partial y}$
For the given velocity field, where \(V_x = 3\) and \(V_y = 5x\), the divergence becomes:
$\nabla \cdot \vec{V} = \frac{\partial 3}{\partial x} + \frac{\partial (5x)}{\partial y} = 0 + 0 = 0$
Since the divergence is zero, the fluid is incompressible.
Check for Rotationality: A flow is rotational if the curl of the velocity field is non-zero. In two dimensions, we only need to consider the k-component of the curl:
$\nabla \times \vec{V} = \left(\frac{\partial V_y}{\partial x} - \frac{\partial V_x}{\partial y}\right) \hat{k}$
For the given velocity field:
$\nabla \times \vec{V} = \frac{\partial (5x)}{\partial x} - \frac{\partial 3}{\partial y} = 5 - 0 = 5$
Since the curl is non-zero, the flow is rotational.
Therefore, the correct statement is "The fluid is incompressible and the flow is rotational."
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