Galileo number, abbreviated as \(Ga\) or \(Gal\), a dimensionless number, also called Galilei number, used in fluid dynamics that compares gravitational forces to viscous forces in a flow system. It’s particularly relevant in situations where gravity drives the motion of a fluid, think of sediment settling, bubbles rising, or flow in packed beds, without the complicating effects of inertia dominating the picture. It’s less common than some other numbers like Reynolds or Grashof, but it pops up in specific contexts like multiphase flows or low-speed viscous regimes.
Galileo number formula |
||
| \( Ga \;=\; \dfrac{ g \cdot L^3 }{ \nu^2 }\) | ||
| Symbol | English | Metric |
| \( Ga \) = Galileo Number | \(dimensionless\) | \(dimensionless\) |
| \( g \) = Gravitational Acceleration | \(ft \;/\; sec^2\) | \(m \;/\; s^2\) |
| \( L \) = Characteristic Length | \(in\) | \(mm\) |
| \( \nu \) (Greek symbol nu) = Kinematic Viscosity | \(ft^2 \;/\; sec\) | \(m^2 \;/\; s\) |
Galileo number formula
|
||
| \( Ga \;=\; \dfrac{ g \cdot L_c^3 \cdot \rho^2 }{ \mu^2 }\) | ||
| Symbol | English | Metric |
| \( Ga \) = Galileo Number | \(dimensionless\) | \(dimensionless\) |
| \( g \) = Gravitational Acceleration | \(ft \;/\; sec^2\) | \(m \;/\; s^2\) |
| \( L_c \) = Characteristic Length | \(ft\) | \(m\) |
| \( \rho \) (Greek symbol rho) = Fluid Density | \(lbm \;/\; ft^3\) | \(kg \;/\; m^3\) |
| \( \mu \) (Greek symbol mu) = Fluid Viscosity | \(lbf - sec \;/\; ft^2\) | \( Pa - s \) |