Distinguish between streamline and line of flow
Streamline refers to a fluid dynamic term that describes the path followed by a fluid particle in steady and laminar flow. It represents the trajectory that a particle would follow if it were to move within a fluid without any disturbance from other particles or external forces. Streamlines are tangent to the instantaneous velocity vector at each point in the flow, and they do not cross or intersect each other.
On the other hand, the line of flow refers to the actual path traced by particles in a fluid as it moves from one point to another. It represents the visible or observable path of the fluid flow, which may be curved or straight, depending on the fluid dynamics and external factors. Unlike streamlines, the line of flow represents the real-life movement and can be influenced by various factors such as obstacles, turbulence, or external forces.
In summary, streamline represents the idealized path followed by a fluid particle in steady and laminar flow, whereas the line of flow represents the actual path traced by particles in a fluid, considering the various real-life factors and influences.