Question

If plaque buildup reduces the radius of the artery by a factor of 2, by what factor does the flow rate change?

Answer 1

If plaque buildup reduces the radius of the artery by a factor of 2, the flow rate becomes 1/16th of the original.

Coronary heart disease results from a deposition of plaque in the blood vessels which transport blood to the heart. When the flow of blood to the heart is hampered or obstructed, the heart can be harmed due to a deficiency of oxygen.

Moreover, if a large section of plaque that is deposited gets displaced from an artery wall, it can get stick in other arteries in the body as well,  including those present in the brain.

For convenience, an assumption can be made that the artery is cylindrical in shape with a radius of R. The flow rate of a viscous fluid (blood in this case) is determined by Poiseuille's Law, i.e. Q = (π/8) (ΔP/ηl)r4.

To learn more about Poiseuille's Law here

brainly.com/question/14830017

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