Chapter 3 : Kinematics of Fluid
Lecture 7 :


Path Lines

        Definition:  A path line is the trajectory of a fluid particle of fixed identity as defined by Eq. (6.1).

Fig 7.3    Path lines

         A family of path lines represents the trajectories of different particles, say, P1, P 2, P3, etc. (Fig. 7.3).

       Differences between Path Line and Stream Line

Path Line
Stream Line
  • This refers to a path followed by a fluid particle over a period of time.
  • This is an imaginary curve in a flow field for a fixed instant of time, tangent to which gives the instantaneous velocity at that point .
  • Two path lines can intersect each other as or a single path line can form a loop as different particles or even same particle can arrive at the same point at different instants of time.
 
  • Two stream lines can never intersect each other, as the instantaneous velocity vector at any given point is unique.

Note: In a steady flow path lines are identical to streamlines  as the Eulerian and Lagrangian versions become the same.

Lets Do Some Examples