Page 525 - College Physics For AP Courses
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Chapter 12 | Fluid Dynamics and Its Biological and Medical Applications 513
Solution
With a constant pressure difference assumed and the same length and viscosity, along the artery we have
So, given that , we find that .
Therefore, , a decrease in the artery radius of 16%.
Discussion
(12.83)
This decrease in radius is surprisingly small for this situation. To restore the blood flow in spite of this buildup would require an increase in the pressure difference of a factor of two, with subsequent strain on the heart.
